Pasaran Buruh dan Standard Hidup di Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu ketika Kemelesetan Ekonomi, 1929-1938 (Labour Market and Living Standards in the Federated Malay States during the Great Depression, 1929-1938)

Abstract

This article examines the position of the labour market and the living standards in the Federated Malay States (FMS) during the Great Depression. The collapse of the European market since the end of 1929 directly impacted the economic growth of the FMS which depended on it to export raw materials. This form of dependency is one of the effects of the implementation of imperial economic policies in the FMS that integrates the colonial economic structure with the global economy. This situation allows the FMS to emerge as one of the major exporters of raw materials in the world. Although the issue of the FMS’ economic development has received attention among the historian, the issue of living standards and labour markets has not been studied deeply in previous studies. Therefore, this article explores both issues by proving the inequalities of employment opportunities and wage rates among laborers in the FMS during the depression. The FMS Government administrative records and CO576 colonial records were used to examine colonial policies related to the labour market and living standards. These two sources record empirical data that prove the phenomenon of disparity in both sectors. The results of the study found that the fall in the export economy of the FMS had a relative impact on job opportunities and the unemployment rate of workers. In any case, the protection policy only benefits the skilled workers who are dominated by immigrant labour. This group is also protected by the enforcement of the minimum wage rate by the FMS government. The purpose is to ensure that the colonial economic sector in the FMS continues to operate despite the economic recession