Examine the state of working and health conditions of working men and women in the

Caribbean in the 1930s. You are required to consider FIVE conditions, at least TWO from each
area.

TOTAL 25 MARKS

 Working Conditions of Working Men and Women of the Caribbean in the 1930’s

The 1930’s were a dark time of history as World War II had just ended but later started the
Great Depression. The workers of the Caribbean began to protest to highlight the unfairness of
their situation. This essay will accentuate the working and health conditions of both men and
women of the 1930’s leading up to their strikes.

During this time there was much inequality as workers of African and Indian descent were made
to work under harsh circumstances with little to no pay for their work. They had to report to duty
in the plantations early in the morning and were allowed to leave late in the evening with few
rest breaks during the day if they were allowed that much as some workers were only allowed to
stop for lunch. The severe heat of the sun and the lack of breaks, food and water made this task
even more inhumane. This resulted in their over exhaustion and dehydration overtime which
has effects mentally, physically as well as emotionally. This took a toll on their mental health
leading them to conspire to revolt and protest these working conditions as they could not bear
the suffering any longer without making a detrimental effect on their body.
Another working condition would be that the workers of the Caribbean produce a greater
amount of sugar to compete with the falling sugar prices as Cuba was making more profits from
beet sugar as they were able to produce their product faster using technology which we in the
Caribbean did not own at that time and it had to be done manually using old equipment which
sometimes got them injured. When they were they were simply sent home with no
compensation for their injuries and no guarantee of their job.
The employers of these workers were also experiencing the effects of the Great Depression and
would have had to either lay off some workers or reduce their pay which ranged between 25 to
60 cents for an unskilled worker who already has to spend 23% of his wages on food . This
affected them as they were already poor with little land to cultivate to attempt to sell at the
Sunday market. Even if they were so lucky as to harvest crops it would most likely be just
enough to provide for their families and sometimes this would not even be the case. The lands
occupied by workers were usually the most infertile of the grounds so the food produced would
be rationed among the family leaving them starved and dehydrated subsequently causing
malnutrition.
In conclusion the working and health levels in the Caribbean during the 1930’s were simply
inhumane causing them to strike and protest these circumstances. They wanted equality and
fairness which sparked the fire across the nations to upgrade their standard of living.