Le problème social du chômage saisonnier The Social Problem of Seasonal Unemployment

Sommaire

Le chômage saisonnier en existence au Canada et dans la province de Québec en particulier pose de graves problèmes qui ont leurs répercussions sur le plan économique et social. S'appuyant sur des chiffres et sur des faits éloquents, l'auteur examine cette situation et expose les rôles joués par les gouvernements fédéral et provinciaux dans le but de l'améliorer.

Summary

Some facts and figures illustrate better than a long article the social and economic impact of the seasonal unemployment of an important part of the workers. In 1961, the population of the Province of Quebec amounted to 1,471,840 people, according to the Federal Census. At the end of January of the same year, 83,791 people, according to the estimates of the Federal Minister of Labour, were without employment, i.e. a proportion of nearly 89fc of the total-man power; at the end of February, 1952, 114,973 people were in the same situation, making up at this time almost 8% of the total active population.

In studying the figures of the variations in employment since 1948, the following facts may be noted:

1. the number of unemployed during the winter months has steadily increased since 1961;

2. the length of unemployment has a tendancy to increase substantially during the winter season;

3. the number of workers unemployed increases each year especially in the categories characterized by the longest length of the unemployment period.

The most recent information that we have on the length of unemployment in our district, show that on February 1, 1955, 53.5% or 7 705 people capable of work were looking for employment since a month or more than a month. The number of those looking for employment represented 7.5% of the active labour supply in the Quebec métropolitain district.

If one takes into account the maximum weekly unemployment insurance payments made to unemployed persons, one may realize not only thé acuteness of the problems created to the families and to the society as a whole by seasonal unemployment, but also the depreciation of the collective buying power that the presence of such a large inactive mass creates in a district or a locality which may result in serious economic evils.

Our province, and particularly our district, are especially vulnerable to the harm done by seasonal unemployment.

The district of Quebec is, furthermore, very frequently a district with an excess of man-power, this surplus being mainly made of general or non-specialized labour coming to a large extent from neighbouring or more distant rural territories; for these workers, of which a large number emigrate by necessity, the city and district of Quebec constitutes the first stage and, quite often, the end of their road. There is then brought into existence in the metropolitan district a state of what could be called permanent unemployment, the unemployment that is known as "structural" unemployment, and which may be defined as being the result of a "surplus of labour in a city, and economic district or a country, taking into account the capacities for absorption of existing enterprises".

A certain number of our industries, even important ones, are subject to two other particular types of unemployment: "competitive" unemployment, which, through the play of certain economic factors, result from the reduction in production in a plant or in an industrial sector.

This "competitive" unemployment is characterized by a temporary lay-off, by a reduced work week or by shorter work days or by both. Finally, "competitive" unemployment may also lead to the worst, that is to say, the permanent dismissal of labour.

The other type of unemployment, is technological unemployment which consists of the loss of employment brought about by new processes, new machines or new organization methods or even caused by the temporary or permanent loss of a market due to changes in consumers' tastes.

If one examines finally the structure of the labour market of the Quebec district, one can easily detect that there exists a certain "occupational" lack of balance. Our territory contains a high percentage of seasonal industries or business. Furthermore, it is a market where a relatively high percentage of feminine labour is to be found, characterized by a frequently high turnover.

NECESSITY OF POSITIVE MEASURES

The Federal government, who is considered in most circles as responsible for the general employment policy, has recently decided to alter the programme of public works wrich it was keeping in reserve in provision of general unemployment and to set up a new short-range programme more flexible, more changeable and more easily adaptable to employment conditions in the various regions of the country.

Moreover, the provincial governments seem ready to carry out the various public works in taking their inspiration from the same conceptions, and in coordinating as much as possible the programme of public investment with that of the Federal government. An attempt is being made to apply the same methods to the level of municipal administrations.

The main purpose of the government action should be to stimulate private activity or in other words, to give it a greater impetus. It only constitutes a partial and negative solution of the problem we are examining just now.

It has become necessary to add some positive measures by making more flexible the income tax regulation on depreciation of capital invested during the months of seasonal unemployment, by influencing through some positive measures the private as well as the public policies on credit and by certain other action of a similar nature, which would have as direct result the quickening of private initiative.