asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that owing to low wage standards prevailing in Seychelles under-nourishment is common among the labouring classes; and whether it is intended to establish minimum wage ordinances with a view to remedying this situation?
With my approval, the Governor of Seychelles has recently appointed a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and report on the increase in the cost of living in respect of all classes in Seychelles and to prepare a cost of living index figure. On many estates, wages have been increased and an examination undertaken in Victoria indicated a general advance of wages for skilled and unskilled labour. The Wages Regulations Ordinance, 1932, gives the Governor in Council power to fix minimum wages for any occupation whenever they appear to be unreasonably low. I am asking the Governor for a report as to the orders at present in operation under this Ordinance.