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44
Employment of Young Persons
The employment of young persons is general, but the proportion
varies according to the nature of the industry.; In only two
instances has mention been made of an apprentice system. This may
be a reflection of the unwillingness of young people to commit
themselves to one class of employment over a period of years, and
in the case of boys to the realisation of the possible disruption
of their subsequent career by compulsory military service. The
relatively low wages paid to apprentices no doubt also influence
young people in this respect.; It must be said, however, that it
is likely in this survey that the majority of industries studied
did not lend themselves to the apprentice system.
Employment of Old People
No accurate figure has been obtained of the number of employees
over pensionable age in the various factories covered by this
survey. Some industries do not lend themselves to the employment
of aged persons except in such capacities as watchmen, cleaners or
caretakers.;
One light engineering firm, however, has some 5% of its
employees over pensionable age. This is a firm of which the
founder recently died. Up to the time of his death he had taken
an active part in the running of the firm and no doubt influenced
the policy of retention of aging employees. The work carried out
in this firm is highly skilled and it may be assumed that the
experience of older men is of utmost value in an advisory or
supervisory capacity.
Two other firms employing a high proportion of elderly
women, on such jobs as sorting and packing, find it better to
group them together rather than have them dispersed amongst
younger workers of dissimilar interests and abilities. One of
these firms before the last World War employed juvenile labour for
packing but now finds it more expedient to employ elderly women on
this task. Though the wages expected are more than those paid to
juveniles and the work generally carried out more slowly, elderly
people are said to be more steady and reliable. One firm making
screws tried as an experiment to employ mainly elderly men, but
abandoned the scheme on account of the poorer vision and slower
reactions of these workers.;
Employment of Disabled Persons
The percentage of disabled is in general above the statutory
quota.