Homework was probably the most oppressive brand of child labour because of the conditions and tasks involved and because of the conditions and tasks involved and because wretched pay meant, many hours of monotonous work as many hands as possible were required to gain a living. Many children were kept away from school to work since if they weren't, there would be no money to feed them. 10. Homework was never well paid. In 1871 matchboxes were made for 2d a gross. One of the arguements used against the employment of children especially in homework was that it was responsible for the low rates of pay. The homeworker calling on children' help to increase her earnings would turn in for a single wage, work which could not have been done by one worker alone, thus setting a standard of production which the employer was happy not only to accept but to require.
11. The difference between boys' and girls' work opportunities
especially by the end of the century, meant that girls had less chance of earning, they were more likely to be helping with housework, child care or homework and the value of their work would be less perceived and less regularly acknowledged.
TERMS OF FACTORY ACTS IN THE 19th CENTURY
1802 Health and Morals of Apprentices Act
1.
2.
3.
4.
Daily hours of pauper children limited to 12 hours. No night work.
Instruction in the three R's.
Compulsory Sunday School attendance (only applicable to paupers. 1819 Factory Act
1.
Prohibition of employment of children under nine. 2. 8-16 years -
1833 Fact
12 hour day (only applicable to cotton mills)
1. No employment of children under nine.
2.
3.
4.
8-13 years --
9 hours per day with 2 hours in school. 24.18 years 12 hour day.
Appointment of Factory Inspectors.
1842 Mines and Collieries Act
1.
No women and children to work underground.
2. No employment of boys under 10.
3.
All responsibloljobs.to.be done by men,
4.
5.
Mines tested daily for gas.
Appointment of inspectors.
1844 Factory Act
響
1. 8-13 years -
6 hour day.
2. Women 12 hours.
1847 Ten Hours Act
Hours of work for women and children limited to 56 per week maximum of 10 hours per day.
1867 Factory Acts Extension Act and Workshops Act
Introduced by Walpole to give protection to those working in lace, hosiery, etc. traders previously unprotected industries.
--
1874 Act placing further restrictions on the work of children. 1878 Factory and Workshops Act passed and amended in 1883 and 1891. 1891 Act passed largely as a result of the interest aroused by the disclosures of the report on the sweating system, raised the minimum age of children's employment to 11 and prohibited the employment of Women for one month after the birth of a child.