Annual report on the Falkland Islands and Dependencies / Colonial Office.

  • Colonial Office
Date:
[1955]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Falkland Islands and Dependencies / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/80 page 9
    Kingdom. Several farm managers also found it necessary to import labour from the United Kingdom to work as shepherds and navvies in the Camp. Four Chilean navvies were engaged in 1955 to work on one farm. There was a general shortage of labour in the Colony and, consequently, no unemployment. WAGES AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Stanley During 1954 and the first part of 1955 unskilled labourers were paid at the rate of Is. 8d. per hour and skilled labourers and artisans received Is. 9d. and 2s. Id. per hour respectively. In addition a cost of living bonus of Id., and later 8d., per hour was paid. As from the 1st August 1955, this bonus was consolidated with the basic wage and artisans were paid an additional 2d. per hour. Wages at the close of 1955 were: £5 5s. 0d. per week for unskilled labourers £5 8s. 9d. and £6 1 Is. 3d. per week for skilled labourers and artisans respectively. A five and a half day week of 45 hours was worked. Time and a half was paid for overtime, with double time for work on Sundays and public holidays of which there are eight each year. Hourly workers were granted a paid holiday of one week annually. There was no night work except in essential services. The Camp In the Camp, general labourers, termed navvies, received £11 per month on the West Falklands and £10 10s. 0d. per month on the East Falklands. Shepherds received £12 10s. 0d. and £12 per month respectively. The Camp monthly cost of living bonus remained at £8 2s. 6d. throughout the two years. In addition, labourers and shepherds received free quarters, fuel, meat and milk. Extra bonuses were paid for shearing, while labourers and shepherds were able to enhance their earnings by engaging in contract work such as fencing and peat cutting. All Camp employees were paid monthly. An average of 45 hours weekly was worked, with Saturday afternoons and Sundays as rest days. Employees in the Camp were given 15 days holiday annually, which included the eight public holidays. COST OF LIVING Mutton is the staple meat; the supply of fresh fish, fowls, pork and beef is irregular. The wild Upland Goose is eaten at all seasons and gives some variety to a restricted diet. Locally grown vegetables are not easily obtained and the majority of householders grow their own. There is one hotel and a few boarding houses in Stanley which offer varying degrees of comfort at terms ranging from 35s. to 70s. per week. Several householders are also willing to take one or two paying guests. Rents for furnished houses vary from £4 to £6 10s. 0d. a month.
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image