The Research On Working-class Life Condition Of Modern Jinan (1904-1937)

For a long time, the researches on the working class mostly focus on the labor dispute or the labor movement due to the influence of the revolution history's view. Since the 80's in 20th century, the researches on social history are on the up, and the researches on the living conditions of workers also immediately rise. Jinan is the provincial capital in Shandong, whose industry and business industry have progressed since antiquity.In 1904, Jinan opened port commercial intercourse as the first inland city, which had a certain representative. This thesis sets out from the angle of social history, takes the living conditions of workers in modern Jinan as the research object, detailed analyses their income and expenditure, and compares with other statas'living conditions in Jinan. The porpose is to show the work-class real life status, further analyze what level it is at in Jinan community.The working class this test discuss include the clerk workers in commercial, the industrial workers in modern industrial and the handicraft workers in manual workshop. The number of the whole workers is about 6-7 millions, which includes above 3 millions clerk workers, about 1-3 millions industrial workers, about one million handicraft workers. The youth male is the main part of the workers. But there are many women and children in some light industrial departments.About the income level, clerk workers is the best, industrial workers is the next and handicraft workers is the worst. Within industrial workers, the income of tobacco, Electrical and machine industry is the highest, the income of flour, textile, food and paper industry is the next, the income of match, carpet, lace industry is the worst. Skilled labors has high income, unskilled has low income. The wages of male is high, female, child labor is low, the apprentice generally has no wages. Clerk workers have higher push money or annual bonus. Handicraft workers earn far less than shop workers and industrial workers. Jinan spinning industry workers' income level is higher than the level of Shandong Province and national. But overall, the general industrial workers'income level is less than the average income level of the developed cities. Besides direct income, there are also some benefits premiums to the working class, those benefits are mainly offered by payment in kind, secondly by payment in cash.About the spending level, the living expense of Jinan workers is lower than the national average level, lower than Shanghai's, close to Chengdu's, but higher than Qingdao's and Yantai's. Adapted to workers' low income, the expense items are simple in common working families which are mainly based on food and the miscellaneous expenses are few. Most families can achieve balance of payments, a small number can also achieve surpluses. In daily life, the diet of Jinan working families is simple and food structure is imbalance. The requirement of workers for clothes is practical. Housing jam, bad environment, but most workers have houses to live, this is better than Qingdao. The expense for workers'education is low, but because of the social education, the workers'knowledge and skill may have risen. Workers choose a cheep way in entertainment, they can't afford senior entertainment.Compared to other society strata, working class is not the under class. The income gap between working class and upper class is large. The income of teachers in university and senior government official is scores of times more than workers', even a hundred times. Compared to middle class, the income gap is relatively small. The income between high earners in workers and middle class is a level in line. Compared to urban laborers and vagrant, working class has secure jobs and regular incomes. Compared to working class, the rich have a large expense in spirit and entertainment, meet the nutritional requirement in diet, lead to the trend of the times in clothing and fashion, and have houses or better accommodation.