L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 581
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*** Discontentment among Factory Labourers**
87. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : (a) Is the Honourable Member for Labour aware that there exists great discontentment among the factory labourers on account of the fact that the capitalists who are making abnormal profits do not give an adequate share to their labourers in the form of rise in their wages ?
(b) What action has the Honourable Member taken to force the capitalists to give a share of their profits to persons by whose labour the profit is achieved ?
(c) Is the Honourable Member aware that the unrest in the factory labour is not due so much to political consciousness as it is due to economic coercion of their employers ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Where there is, as now, a tendency for prices to rise and where profits are being made, labour is always likely to claim an increase in emoluments Government are aware that such claims are being put forward.
(b) A considerable portion of the profits of industry goes to Government in the shape of Excess Profits Tax. Out of the part left to the employers, many employers are distributing bonuses. Government has not found it necessary at present to take any action, for the purpose indicated.
(c) The question is not understood.
Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : Have the Government found out the names of those factories which are giving the bonus to their employees ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, we have. If the Honourable Member wants the information, it can be supplied to him.
Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : Are all these factories giving this bonus or only some of them ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : If my Honourable friend puts down a question, I can give the detailed information on the point.
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, p. 268.