SHORTEN OR EXTEND WORKING HOURS?

A major campaign to help the unemployed has begun. Committees have been formed everywhere, fundraising efforts have started on the streets, at points of sale, through press chains, and concerts, shooting ranges, voluntary and compulsory taxation of tickets, railway shipments, rent, cinema tickets, etc., are being organized.

Society is growing poorer. Crafts, industry, and trade face ruin. Factories are getting rid of their existing stock, which they can no longer replace with new goods; shops are already showing a lack of various items that cannot be purchased, and the unemployed curse and rail against our system, engaging in anti-Polish politics.

A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Prystor stated at a conference convened by the Council of Ministers that no treasury and no government could, in this difficult and exceptional situation, suffice with its own strength without the help of society, and he told us the honest truth.

Craftsmanship has always been, and still is today, willing to assist our Government in the fight against unemployment.

Mr. Jastrzębski, Chairman of the Economic Committee at the Presidium of the Council of Ministers, presented a program for combating the effects of unemployment. It consists of re-distributing the existing work opportunities in the country among those seeking employment by shortening working hours; that is, instead of working 48 hours a week, working shorter hours, only 24 hours, and employing twice the number of workers.

Craftsmen cannot voluntarily provide such assistance, especially given that with today’s high taxes and social charges, the craft sector is depleting its resources and stands on the brink of collapse.

Today, general costs are calculated at 80-100% of labor costs for a 48-hour work week. If working hours are halved, general costs will increase to 160-200% of labor costs, and the sale of our craft products will become illusory, as goods would have to become at least 30% more expensive. Halving working hours amounts to the destruction of the entire craft sector.

The craft sector is always ready to help in the fight against unemployment, knowing that only when everyone finds work will the craftsman’s lot improve. This help can only be provided through work, specifically through intensive work and by lowering the prices of our products. Our older journeymen, trained in pre-war times, who are ashamed to be unemployed, prefer to work 10-12 hours a day rather than receive assistance, as they know perfectly well that greater work efficiency will enable the master to sell their production and secure work not only for themselves but also for others.

By shortening working hours, we will achieve no goal. We will indeed have twice as many people in workshops, but they will earn half of what they used to. They will earn so little that it won’t be enough for their upkeep; workshops will produce fewer goods but will bear double the burdens. If poverty is already great today, by shortening working hours and halving earnings, poverty will become even greater. We have observed in our lives that a craftsman or small farmer who became independent and did not spare effort, but worked 12-14 hours a day and saved on expenses, quickly achieved something and prospered.