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MEXICAN LABOR CONDITIONS IMPROVE IMPROVEMexican Mexican labor conditions which were extremely bad at the beginning of the Cirranza administra tion have been much Improved through the jd vanced measures taken by the president and hfs government according to Ygnacio Bonillas am ¬ bassador from Mexico Although the labor shortage was acute almost everywhere wages were also lov and working conditions almost intolerable I IThe The situation was remedied by the enactment of a code of labor laws which at first seemed drastic but which are now proving highly satisfactory At present workmen take so much interest in govern ¬ ment affairs that much of the legislation proposed is suggested by the great labor organizations of Sonora Coahuihi Vera Cruz Pueblo Yucatan and the other states statesThe The present laws provide for an eighthour day and for seven hours work at night In unhenlthful occupations six hours constitute a days work as it does for children between the ages of 12 and 1C years No child under the age of 12 inay beem iPloyed There mustbe one full day of rest eapli week for every worker workerEqual Equal wages must be paid to workers of both sexes and all wages must be paid in legal money Overtime is paid for at double rates but must not exceed three hours in any day Women may not work overtime ut all and the same provision ap ¬ plies to children under 10 10Employees Employees in mining or agriculture must be suitably housed and it is the employers duty to see that this is accomplished He must rent houses at a cost not exceeding G per cent annualy of their assessed value The employer must also provide schools hospitals and markets if they are necessary but he is prohibited from establishing barrooms or gambling rooms Employers are liable for all industrial accidents accidentsConciliation Conciliation and arbitration boards are provided in cases of labor disputes and compulsory arbitra ¬ tion is enforced by fining the employer who refuses to arbitrate three months pay for his employees and by depriving workers of all their contract rights in case they refuse refuseStrikes Strikes without violence are permissible unless they take place in time of war on government work Lockouts are permissible only when over ¬ production makes them necessary
