The Transvaal Labor Crisis, 1901-1906

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Periodical article

Title:	The Transvaal Labor Crisis, 1901-1906
Author:	Denoon, Donald J.N.
Year:	1967
Periodical:	The Journal of African History
Volume:	8
Issue:	3
Pages:	481-494
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	employment history 1900-1909 History and Exploration Labor and Employment colonialism Ethnic and Race Relations
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/179832
Abstract:	The scarcity of African labour for the mines in South Africa during the Reconstruction period inhibited expansion of the white labour force. The mines were unable to support a large English-speaking immigrant community. It is possible to argue though impossible to prove now that the shortage of African labour was caused partly by the disillusionment of the workers as a result of their experience of British administration, and partly by a fairly extensive determination to withhold labour until conditions were improved. The consequence was the importation of Chinese labour. As the Chinese wages were lower than those paid to Africans the latter lost their importance for the success of mining. The Chinese got a very restrictive contract which later also covered African labour. This solidified the industrial colour-bar. Notes.