Flag system - Shokiseido

Japanese: 賞旗制度 - しょうきせいど

It was a measure to stimulate labor efficiency under the so-called "primitive labor relations" of extremely long working hours and low wages under the class system of capitalists' control over wage laborers. In Japan, it was widely practiced from the mid-Meiji period to the Taisho period, mainly in silk mills and spinning and weaving factories. Specifically, competitions were held between factories and groups within a company, and the department with the highest monthly or daily production performance was awarded a championship flag. The flag was then raised by that department during the period of the next competition, as a measure to stimulate the motivation of female workers to work.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

資本家の賃労働者に対する身分制支配のもとでの超長時間労働と低賃金という，いわゆる〈原生的労働関係〉のもとでの労働能率刺激策の一つ。日本においては，製糸工場，紡織工場などを中心として明治時代中期以降大正期にかけて盛んに行われた。具体的には，企業内の各工場，各組相互間で競争を行わせ，毎月もしくは毎日の最高生産成績をあげた部署に優勝旗を与える。そして次の競技の期間内はその部署に掲げさせておくことにより女工の労働意欲を刺激しようとする方策である。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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