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Coll 28/85S (1) ‘Persia. Abadan and S. W. Persian oilfields; Protection of British interests.’ [‎95r] (189/1113)

The record is made up of 1 file (555 folios). It was created in 27 Mar 1946-28 Feb 1948. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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7 -
sugar and
^^ . worker, anu. additional flour for each dependant
ea. Other items, such
and apparently adequate weekly
tea
and an additional family ration of t
as, soap, cigarettes, rice, ghee and clothing are issued on
a monthly ration card. In ttm- main the qualities are letter
ana th^- prices much lower than these ruling in the open
market; the flour, however, is not at present entirely
satisfactory - quality is indifferent and the price is not
autractive. It was stated, at Mas,jid-i-Suleiman that
wcikers are not taking tim ir flour ration, preferring to
^'uy in the open market. The Company’s policy of purchasing
Hour through the Persian Government for the sake of
guaranteed supply appears to he disadvantageous to loth
Company and consumer. The clothing issued is almost
entirely for men, cotton cloth being only occasionally
available for women dependants. It is understood that
clothing lor dependant children is never supplied, and this
policy is in marked contrast with the Company’s interest,
m other directions, in child welfare - e.g., schools
clinics.
17.
18.
iree medical services and free housing accommodation
are recognised conditions of employment and are reviewed
m detail in subsequent paragraphs.
ihe system of gratuity for long and satisfactory
service has not been^much publicized, probably because the
award cl a gratuity is discretionary and is not a rieht of
the worker. Review of appropriate cases for gratuity is
conducted by the Abadan and Pields Labour Offices, and
appears tc be sympathetic. After 20 years’ service and
provided the worker is over 40 years of age, the rate of
assessment^is five months' pay for the first ten years of
service and an additional month's pay for each additional
year, with further addition of a bonus. The entire
calculation is made on the worker's last rate of pav. The
records of the Abadan Labour Office showed a total gratuity
payment in September 1946 of 617,935 rials to 37 cases, -nd
in October 1946 of 809,778 rials to 42 cases.
Training.
19.
At Abadan the value of training is fully appreciated
and schemes are efficiently conducted. Th^ 4rti^n^'
Course, from which the Company might expect to build a static
and loyal labour force, recruits juveniles 14 years of age
and over, the quota being 500. It is a five years' course
combining schoolroom theory and workshop practice. ?age on
commencement _ is 31 rials a day rising, to 52 rials at the
- dx the final j^ear. In spite of the obvious immaturity
of many of the trainees, the standard, of work is hi£h and
interest and enthusiasm are apparently well sustained \
technical Apprentice Course accommodates 100 youths, from
whom it is hoped to obtain foremen and junior technicians.
It is claimed that at the end cf a four to five yp-ar course
trainees attain a standard equivalent to National Certificate,
xne commencing wage is 40 rials a day. There is a four
xu^ r ^ourse xcr Commercial Apprentices, practical work in
the.offices being combined with schoolroom theory - here
^ a ^ota of^lOO. The highest grade of training
, ° Teuiinical iramee course for which 100 souths who
xx^ve completes a Secondary ochcol Course are re-cruitpd,
if? 1 ??*?-. ^ given at the Abadan Institute - an imposing
estaolisnmont, well-equipped and staffed with enthusiasts,
mese trainees are destined for the Company's technical staff

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Content

Papers relating to strikes and social unrest amongst workers on the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company’s (AIOC) oilfields in southern Iran (frequently referred to as Persia throughout the file), and the AIOC refinery at Abadan. The file’s principal correspondents include: the British Ambassador at Tehran, John Haller Le Rougetel; the Counsellor for Indian Affairs at the British Embassy in Tehran, Clarmont Percival Skrine; the Foreign Office.

The file covers: initial reports of unrest at Abadan in May 1946; the Tudeh Party of Iran’s perceived involvement in fomenting unrest amongst AIOC employees; unrest amongst Indian AIOC employees, and discussion amongst British officials over plans to repatriate perceived ringleaders back to India; the despatch of Indian troops to Shaiba [Shu‘aybah] in Iraq, that could be deployed to quell social unrest in southern Iran if required; accounts of events on 14 July 1946, in which violent clashes occurred between socialist activists associated with the Tudeh Party who supported AIOC workers, and representatives of the Arab Tribal Union; a facsimile of an account of the events 14 July 1946 written by Vere William Digby Willoughby, British Consul at Khorramshahr (ff 214-249); a report on working and living conditions for Indian AIOC employees, submitted by the Indian Press Officer attached to the British Embassy in Tehran (ff 170-181); a report entitled ‘Social and municipal development carried out by the Anglo-Iranian Company, Limited, in Abadan and the south Persian oilfields’, submitted by the AIOC Chairman, William Fraser (ff 143-162); a report on AIOC labour conditions in Iran, submitted by K J Hird, Labour Attaché at the British Embassy in Tehran, dated 31 December 1946 (ff 87-101); the withdrawal of Indian troops from Shaiba in April 1947, in response to a stabilisation of the political situation in Iran; quarterly reports on affairs at AIOC, prepared by HM Consul-General at Khorramshahr, describing worker morale, potentially subversive activities, social improvements for workers, etc.

Extent and format
1 file (555 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 557; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 28/85S (1) ‘Persia. Abadan and S. W. Persian oilfields; Protection of British interests.’ [‎95r] (189/1113), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3490A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100085059433.0x0000c0> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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