INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LABOUR.
*-i-
- : ºr. * *.
* '
RETURN to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons,
. . . . dated 28 March 1905;-for,
“RETURN showing the TERMs of the following ResoluTIONs embodied in
the FINAL PROTOCOL of the INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE on LABoup in
FACTORIES and MINES, held at Berlin in 1890, namely, Section I. 1 (a),
1 (b), Section III. i to 7, Section IV. 1 to 5, Section W. 1 to 5;
and the degree to which the RECOMMENDATIONs in each of the said
REsolutions are now carried out in each of the CountRIES represented s
at that CoNFERENCE.” i
Home Office,
ome UInce } THOMAS COCHIR ANE.
3 Angust 1905.
~
(Mr. Herbert Samuel.)
|
Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed,
3 August 1905.
L O N D O N :
PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY EYBE AND SPOTTISWOODE,
PRINTERS TO THE KING’s MOST ExCELLENT MAJESTY.
And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
WYMAN AND SONS, LTD., FETTER LANE, E.C., and
32, ABINGDON STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W.; or
OLIVER AND BOYD, EDINBURGII; or
E. PONSONBY, 116, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN.
291.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
A.—Resolutions Of the Berlin Labour Conference - ";
B.—Reports showing how far the Recommenda-
tions have been carried Out in—
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND - tº tº tº - 4
AUSTRIA - tº e s tº wº - 11
BELGIUM sº vº sº & º º - 14
DENMARK lº ( * > gº tºº ſº gºs - 15
FRANCE s * > wº ſº gº º - 17
GERMANY tº sº º sº Gº º º - 19
HoDI.AND ſº sº i., § ę º ~ 24
THUNGARY sº tº * > sº tº * * - 26
ITALY * * sº tº tº gº tº- - 28
LUXEMBOURG - sº tº sº º tº ſº - 31
PoRTUGAL ſº º tº wº ſº gº - 32
SWEDEN AND NORWAY cº tº gº * -º - 33’
SwitzERLAND tº s tº º dº Lºs – 35
C.-Summary of Reports º tº º º wº - 39
§:
^s
f
X
g*
i
“...
.º
-
s
º
RETURN showing the TERMs of the following RESOLUTIONs embodičd in the
FINAL PROTOCOL of the INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE on LABOUR in FACTORIEs
and MINEs, held at BERLIN in 1890, namely, Section I., 1 (a), 1 (b),
Section III., 1 to 7, Section IV., 1 to 5, Section W., l to 5; and the
degree to which the RECOMMENDATIONS in each of the said REsoluTIONs are
now carried out in each of the CountRIES represented at that ConFERENCE.
--~~~~~ : …a º - * * * £—-3: 2, ºx- 4:4 ºr --- *...* * - & . *——e # * . **.
A.—RESOLUTIONS OF THE BERLIN LABOUR
CONFERENCE. -
[ExTRACTS FROM THE RESOLUTIONs EMBODIED IN THE FINAL PROTOCOL OF THE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LABOUR IN FACTORIES AND MINES HELD AT
BERLIN IN 1890, so FAR AS REGARDS THE REGULATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT.
OF CHILDREN, YoUNG PERSONs, AND WoMEN.] - - ..
I.—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
It is desirable—
1.—(a) That the inferior limits of age at which children may be admitted
to underground work in mines should be gradually raised, as experience may
prove the possibility of such a course, to 14 years complete.
In southern countries, however, this limit may be 12 years.
(b) That women be not allowed to work underground.
III–Regulation of Child Labour.
It is desirable—
Age of
children.
Employment
of women.
1. That children of either sex not having reached a certain age be excluded Age.
from work in factories. : .
2. That this limit of age be fixed at 12 years, except for southern
countries, where the limit may be 10 years.
3. That these limits of age be the same for every factory, and that no
difference on this point be admitted.
4. That the children must first have satisfied the provisions concerning
primary education.
5. That children below 14 years complete should work neither at night
nor on Sundays. &
6. That their actual work do not exceed six hours a day, and be broken by
a rest of at least half an hour. -
7. That children be excluded from unhealthy or dangerous occupations, or
be admitted to them only under certain protective conditions.
IV.-Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
It is desirable—
1. That young workers of either sex from 14 to 16 should work neither
at night nor on Sundays. -
2. That their actual work should not exceed 10 hours a day, and be broken
by rests of a total duration of at least an hour and a half.
291. A 2
176281
Education.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous.
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
4 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Unhealthy
3. That exceptions be admitted for certain industries.
4. That restrictions be provided for peculiarly unhealthy or dangerous
O7° dangerous occupations.
occupations.
Boys over
16.
Night work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Employment
after child-
birth.
Age of
children.
5. That protection be given to young men from 16 to 18 years, as far as
COIlC61"In S –
(a) A maximum day's labour.
(b) Night work.
(c) Sunday work.
(d) Their employment in peculiarly dangerous or unhealthy occupa-
tions.
V.—Regulations concerning Female Labour.
It is desirable—
1.—(a) That girls and women from 16 to 21 years of age should not
work at night.
(b) That girls and women over 21 should not work at night.
2. That their actual work should not exceed 11 hours a day, and that
it should be broken by rests of a total duration of one and a half hours at
least.
3. That exceptions be allowed for certain industries.
4. That restrictions be provided for particularly unhealthy or dangerous
occupations.
5. That women after child-birth should not be admitted to work for four
weeks after delivery.
B.—REPORTS SEIOWING THE DEGREE TO WIEHICEI
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
CONFERENCE EIAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT.
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
MINEs.
I.—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
1.—(a) A minimum age for boys working below ground in mines was
first established in this country by an Act of 1842 (5 & 6 Wict. c. 99).
The age was fixed at 10 years. The Mines Regulation and Inspection
Act, 1860, raised it to 12 years for all mines in Great Britain, with an
exemption for boys over 10, who were certified as being able to read and
write, or as attending school for not less than three hours a day for two days
in the week.
Twelve years later these two Acts were repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, by— *
(1) The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1872,
(2) The Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act, 1872,
which included Ireland for the first time.
The Coal Mines Regulation Act, which dealt with mines of coal, stratified
ironstone, shale and fireclay, retained the age limit of 12 years (or 10 under
specified conditions) for boys employed below ground, but restricted the
number of hours which might be worked by boys between that age and
16 years.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 5
Act of 1878,
s. 20.
Act of 1891,
s. 18.
Elementary
Education
(School At-
tendance)
Act (1893)
Amendment
Act, 1899,
s. 1.
Act of 1901,
S. 62.
The Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act, relating to all mines which were
not dealt with by the Coal Mines Regulation Act, fixed the age limit at
12 years absolutely for boys working below ground, and also laid similar
restrictions on the hours of work of boys under 16.
In 1887 the exemption in the Coal Mines Regulation Act for children
between 10 and 12 was abolished by the Act of that year.
No further change was made till 1900, when the Mines (Prohibition of
Child Labour Underground) Act raised the age limit to 13 years for boys
working below ground in all mines.
1.—(b) The Act of 1842 prohibited the employment below ground
in any mine in Great Britain of girls or women of any age. Subsequent
enactments have embodied this prohibition, which in 1872 was extended to
Ireland.
FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPs.
Factory legislation in this country dates from 1802, and during the years
1802—1867 a series of enactments were passed regulating the employment
of workers in factories, which were consolidated in the Factory and Workshop
Act, 1878. This Act for the first time brought in all classes of factories and
workshops in which children, young persons, and women are employed.
Further Acts were passed in 1883, 1889, 1891, 1895, and 1897; and finally
the law was again codified in the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.
In this summary, references to Acts previous to the Act of 1878 will not be
given; but it will be understood that in many cases the provision referred to
in the Act of 1878 was in operation for many classes of works long before that
date.
“Factory,” as used in the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, includes
(a) all places in which manual labour is exercised by way of trade or for
purposes of gain in making, altering, repairing, ornamenting, finishing, or
adapting for sale any article with the aid of mechanical power; (b) certain
classes of manufactures whether power is used or not.
“Workshop’’ includes places where manual labour is exercised as in (a),
but where power is not used,
III.-Regulation of Child Labour.
1 and 2. The Act of 1878 prescribed a minimum age of 10 years for
employment in factories and workshops.
This was raised to 11 years in 1891.
An Education Act of 1899, which applied only to England and Wales, by
raising to 12 the age at which children might obtain total or partial
exemption from school, inferentially raised the age at which they might be
employed in factories and workshops to 12 years.
The Act of 1901 fixed the minimum age at 12 years for the whole
kingdom.
For the purposes of employment in a factory or workshop a “child’” is
defined as any person who is under 14, and who has not, being of the age of
13, obtained the certificate referred to in paragraph 4 of this Section.
3. The provisions (as regards age of employment) in the Act of 1878
and subsequent Acts apply to all factories and workshops.
There is no power to permit the employment in them of children below
the age limit as set out above.
4. The employment of children in factories and workshops is subject, in
respect of their education, to restrictions both under the Education Acts
and the Factory and Workshop Act.
GREAT
BRITAIN.
Employment
of women.
Education.
A 3
6 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
GREAT
BRITAIN.
wº
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Under the Education Acts a child of school age (which may be up to
14, and cannot be lower than 13), cannot be employed until it has reached the
standard prescribed by the local byelaws for partial or total exemption.
Under the Factory and Workshop Act, a child between 12 and 13 is
required to attend school half time; and the obligation is placed on both the
parent or guardian on the one hand, and the employer on the other, to see
that it attends School. The employer must obtain a weekly certificate that
it has so attended.
Act of 1878,
ss. 23–26.
(Act of 1901,
ss. 68–71.)
A child between 13 and 14 is also required to attend school half time,
unless it has obtained a certificate of proficiency in education, or due
attendance as prescribed by the Act, in which case it is no longer subject to
restrictions as a “child,” but is to be treated as a “young person’ (see IV.).
5. Employment of children on Sundays, and between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
on week days, is prohibited.
Act of 1878,
ss. 10, 12, 14,
21.
(Act of 1901,
ss. 23, 25, 27,
6. Except in the case of children over 13 who have obtained the certificate
referred to above, children may only be employed on the half-time system,
*.e., either daily in morning or afternoon sets, or on alternate days.
If employed daily, they may work for a period, the length of which varies
according to the time at which the dinner interval is taken. The morning
set lasts from 6 or 7 a.m. (or 8 a.m. in non-textile factories and workshops) to
not later than 1 p.m., and the afternoon set from not earlier than noon to 6
or 7 p.m. (or 8 p.m. in non-textile factories and workshops). Except in non-
textile factories and workshops, and a few classes of textile factories, in
which a 5 hours' spell of work is allowed, they must not be allowed to work
continuously for more than 4; hours without an interval of at least half-
an-hour for a meal. A half-holiday must be given on Saturday. But if
employed on alternate days, they may work for 12 hours, with intervals for
rest and food totalling 2 hours, and with a half-holiday on Saturday, if
employed on that day.
Overtime not exceeding # hour a day may, except on the weekly half-
holiday, be allowed for a child in certain specified industries where the
process on which the child is working is in an incomplete state at the end
of the period of employment (bleaching and dyeing works, iron mills,
foundries, paper mills). Power is given to the Secretary of State to extend
this list by Special Order, and the following have been added to it :—
Bakehouses, and dressing floors, tin streams, china clay pits, and quarries
in the county of Cornwall. It is understood that in practice such overtime
is not worked, except very rarely in bakehouses. This overtime must be
deducted from the child's maximum legal hours of work on some other day
of the week.
7. In addition to the provisions contained in the Factory and Workshop
Act for the health and safety of workers generally, the following special
precautions are prescribed in the case of children employed in unhealthy
or dangerous occupations:—
A. Entire Prohibition of Employment.
Children may not be employed in— -
(i) Silvering of mirrors by the mercurial process.
(ii) The making of white lead.
(iii) Melting or annealing glass.
(iv) Dry grinding in the metal trade.
(v) Dipping of lucifer matches.
Girls under 16 may not be employed in the making or finishing of
salt, or of bricks or tiles (other than ornamental tiles). - ... .
See also under B (b) (iii) below.
34.)
Act of 1878,
ss. 10, 12, 14.
(Act of 1901,
ss. 23, 25,
27.)
Act of 1878,
S. 54.
(Act of 1901,
s. 51.)
Act of 1878,
s. 38.
(Act of 1901,
s. 77.)
of THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 7.
Act of 1878
s. 9.
Act of 1901,
ss. 12, 13.
Act of 1878,
ss. 27, 28, 30,
41, 73. -
Act of 1901,
iss. 63–6.
Act of 1878,
:s. 29.
(Act of 1901,
s. 67.)
Act of 1878,
S. 39.
(Act of 1901,
s. 78.)
Act of 1878,
s. 37.
(Act of 1901,
s. 76.)
Act of 1891,
ss. 8–10.
Act of 1895,
ss. 12, 24, 28.
Act of 1901,
ss. 79–85.
B. Employment subject to Special Protective Provisions.
(a) Generally.
(i) Children must not be allowed to work between the fixed and
traversing parts of any self-acting machine while it is in motion by
mechanical power, or to clean any part of any machinery, or any place
under machinery other than over-head mill-gearing, while it is in motion
by mechanical power. &
(ii) Before any person under the age of 16 can be employed in a
factory, he or she must be certified by the appointed doctor to be fit
for employment in that factory. This certificate is to the effect that
evidence of age has been produced, and that the child is not incapacitated
by disease or bodily infirmity from working in the factory. It may be
qualified by conditions as to the work on which the child is fit to be
employed. - . . . . . . . .
The Secretary of State has power to extend this requirement to
certain classes of workshops. - . . .
Further, occupiers of workshops are empowered, if they think fit, to
obtain similar certificates for the employment in their works of persons
under 16.
Where an Inspector considers that any particular person under
16 years of age is unfit to do his full day's work at the factory or work-
shop where he is employed, he may require the occupier to cease to
employ the child until a certificate of fitness is forthcoming.
(b) Special Cases.
(i) In the case of certain classes of factories and workshops meals are
not to be taken in rooms where injurious substances might become
mixed with the food.
(ii) In wet-spinning factories, women, young persons and children
are to be protected from damp and steam.
(iii) The Secretary of State has power to certify any manufacture,
machinery, plant, process, or description of manual labour in a factory
or workshop as dangerous or injurious to health, or dangerous to life
or limb, and to make special rules or regulations to meet the necessity
of the case. Such rules or regulations have been made for the following
industries:—
White lead.
Red and orange lead.
Yellow lead.
Lead smelting.
Use of yellow chromate of lead.
Enamelling of iron plates.
Tinning and enamelling of hollow ware,
Paints and colours, and extraction of arsenic.
Lucifer matches.
Earthenware and china.
Chemicals. -
Explosives in which dinitro benzole is used.
Flax spinning and weaving.
Wool sorting and combing.
Brass mixing and casting.
Handling of hides and skins.
Bottling aerated waters.
Vulcanising india-rubber.
Felt hats.
File cutting.
Electric accumulators.
Docks.
Self-acting spinning mules.
GREAT
BRITAIN.
RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONs
GREAT
BRITAIN.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Some of these regulations contain provisions specially relating to
children : —
Enamelling of iron plates.—-No female child to be employed without
previous examination and a certificate of fitness from the medical
attendant of the works. *.
Manufacture and decoration of earthenware and china.-No child to
he employed in the mixing of unfritted lead compounds in the
preparation of fritts, glazes, or colours.
Making transfers for earthenware and china.—No person under 15 to
be so employed. - f -
Manufacture of bi-chromate or chromate of potassium or sodium.—No.
child to be employed in a chrome process.
Flaa, spinning and weaving.—In roughing and sorting and hand
hackling rooms and in machine hackling rooms, children to be
provided with respirators.
Vulcanising of india-rubber by means of bi-sulphide of carbon.—No
child to be employed in a room in which bi-sulphide of carbon is
used.
Electric accumulators.-No child to be employed in the manipulation
of dry compounds of lead or in pasting. -
Docks.-No boy under 16 to be employed as driver of a crane or
winch, or to give signals to a driver, or to attend to cargo falls on
winch-ends or winch-bodies.
IV.-Regulations concerning the Ilabour of the Young.
1, Young persons (i.e., persons between the ages of 14 and 18) may not
be employed on Sundays nor on week days between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Certain exceptions are allowed to this rule, which are set out in paragraph 3
below.
2. Their hours of work must not exceed 12 on 5 days in the week,
including intervals of 2 or 14 hours for meals, according as they are
employed in textile factories or in non-textile factories or workshops.
On the remaining working day of the week the corresponding maximum
hours are 6% and 8, with intervals of 1 hour and # hour.
factory or workshop a young person may be employed on this day for 10 hours,
including 2 hours' intervals, if he has not been employed for more than 8 hours
But in a non-textile
on any other day of the week.
3. The only exceptions as regards night work are as follows:–
Boys of 14 and upwards may be employed on night work (a) in
blast furnaces, iron mills, letterpress printing works, and paper
milis, but the period of such employment may not exceed
12 consecutive hours, and must have the same intervals for
meals as day work ; they must not work during any part of
the 12 hours preceding or following the night work; and
they must not work at night on more than seven days in
any two weeks; (b) in glass works; provided that their
weekly hours of employment do not exceed 60, and that not
more than 14 hours are worked on end, to be followed by an
interval of at least equal length. They may not be employed
for more than five hours continuously without an interval of
half an hour for a meal.
The only exceptions with regard to Sunday labour are:—
(i) The Secretary of State may by Special Order permit the employ-
ment of young persons for three hours on a Sunday in creameries
provided the weekly maximum of hours is not thereby exceeded.
A Special Order for the purpose has been issued.
Act of 1878,
SS. 10, 1],
13, 21.
(Act of 1901,
ss. 23, 24,
26, 34.)
Act of 1878,
ss. 10, 11, 13.
Act of 1891,
S. 15.
Act of 1895,
s. 36.
(Act of 190},
ss. 23, 24, 26,
30.)
Exceptions.
Act of 1878,
s. 58.
Act of 1895,
ss. 14, 38.
(Act of 1901,
s. 54.)
Act of 1878,
S. 60. -
Act of 1895,
S. 14.
(Act of 1901,
s. 55.)
Act of 1901,
S. 42,
OF THE BERLIN TABOUR CONFERENCE, 9
Act of 1878,
s. 51.
(Act of 1901,
s. 48.)
Act of 1878,
s. 55.
(Act of 1901,
s. 53.)
Act of 1878,
s. 75.
(Act of 1901,
s. 52.)
Act of 1878,
s. 50.
(Act of 1901,
s. 47.)
Act of 1878,
s. 9.
Act of 1895,
ss. 8, 9.
Act of 1901,
ss. 12, 13.
(ii) A young person may work for an employer, if both are of the
Jewish faith, in a factory or workshop on Sunday, if it is closed
all Saturday.
Overtime is permitted in the following cases:—
(i) Young persons may be employed as late as is necessary to prevent
the process of Turkey-red dyeing or from any extraordinary
atmospheric influence in the process of open-air bleaching.
(ii) In the case of factories which are driven by water and which
are liable to be stopped by drought or flood, the Secretary of
State may allow the employment of young persons between 6 a.m.
and 7 p.m. on a maximum of 96 days in the case of drought, and
of 48 days in the case of floods, in the year, including the regular
meal hours. * -
(iii) Overtime for young persons in respect of incomplete processes is
the same as for children (see III. (6)).
(iv) A Jewish employer who keeps his factory or workshop closed all
Saturday may employ young persons an extra hour every other
week-day, provided that he does not take advantage of his right
to open on Sunday. -
4.—(a) The occupier of a factory must obtain a certificate of the fitness
of any person under 16 whom he takes into his employment. When a child
employed in a factory becomes a “young person,” i.e., either reaches the
age of 14 or obtains the prescribed education certificate at the age of 13,
as set out in III. 4, a fresh certificate of its fitness for employment in
that factory must be procured.
(b) The prohibition set out in A. (i) and (ii), and B. (b)(i) and (ii) of
the answers to Resolution III. (7), apply also to all young persons, and
those in A. (iii) to female young persons.
(c) Young persons must not be allowed to work between the fixed and
traversing parts of any self-acting machine while in motion by mechanical
power, nor to clean any dangerous part of the machinery in a factory while
it is in motion by mechanical power, or such part of the machinery as is
in mill-gearing while the machinery is in motion for the purpose of propelling
any part of the manufacturing machinery.
(d) As regards the “dangerous trades” named in B. (b) (iii), the same
protection is afforded to young persons as to children in the following
industries : —
Manufacture of bichromate or chromate of potassium or sodium.
Flaa spinning or weaving.
Vulcanising of india-rubber by means of bisulphide of carbon.
Electric accumulators. -
Enamelling of iron plates.—A similar examination is required for female
young persons as for children,
Manufacture and decoration of earthenware and china.—The prohibition
attaching to the employment of children in certain processes (see III. 7,
B. (b) (iii)), applies also to young persons. Young persons employed
in certain other specified processes must be examined once a month
by the certifying surgeon of the district, and must be provided with
suitable overalls and head-coverings.
Making transfers for earthenware and china. – Every young person
employed must be examined once a month by the certifying surgeon.
No person under 15 may be employed at all in this industry.
Mia'ing and casting of brass and certain other alloys.-No female young
person to be employed in any process in a mixing or casting shop, or
in any part of such shop which is not entirely separated by a partition
extending from floor to ceiling.
291. B
any damage which may arise from spontaneous combustion in
GREAT
BRITAIN.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
10 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
GREAT
BRITAIN.
Boys over
16.
Night work.
Hours of
work.
5. The provisions referred to under the head of Resolution No. IV. apply,
except where otherwise stated, to all “young persons” of both sexes.
“Young persons" are defined for the purposes of the Factory Act as those
between the ages of 14 and 18.
In factories where newspapers are printed, boys between 16 and 18 may
be employed for two nights a week without any of the restrictions which
attach to young persons, provided they are not employed more than 12 hours
in any.24. -
In lace factories and bakehouses boys between 16 and 18 may be employed
between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m., and 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. respectively. But if they
are employed out of the ordinary period of employment (i.e., the 12 hours
after 6, 7, or 8 a.m.), they must be allowed intervals for rest and meals of not
less than 9 hours and 7 hours respectively, so that the actual hours of work
in a day do not exceed 9; and if they are employed on any day before
the “ordinary period” begins, they must not work after it ends; and
similarly, if employed after the ordinary hours on one day, they must not
begin to work before the ordinary hours next day. -
Night work on the part of boys over 16 is allowed by Special Order,
under similar conditions to those set out in IV. 3, in the following:—
Electrical stations.
That part of a factory in which reverberatory or regenerative furnaces are
used, and are necessarily kept in operation day and night in order to avoid
waste of material or fuel. -
The knocking out and cutting departments of factories engaged in the refining
of loaf Sugar,
The process of galvanizing sheet metal and wire in factories.
Such parts of mineral dressing floors in Cornwall as are appropriated to the
processes of calcining and stamping.
China clay pits.
Factories and workshops connected with lead and zinc mines in which the
concentration of the ores is carried on.
The processes of pressing and reeling cordite and nitrating and moulding
guncotton carried on in non-teatile factories.
V.—Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1.—(a) and (b) No woman of 18 years and upwards may be employed
in a factory or workshop between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., subject to certain
exceptions which are specified below. (The restrictions applicable to girls
below 18 have been set out in Part IV.)
2. Their hours of work are the same as those for young persons (see
under IV. 2 above), but are subject to some additional exceptions.
3.—(a) Overtime is allowed for women in certain specified trades in
which— -
(i) the material is liable to be spoiled by weather; or -
(ii) press of work arises at certain recurring seasons of the year; or
(iii) the business is liable to sudden press of orders arising from
unforeseen events.
Women may not be so employed later than 10 p.m., nor more than 3 days
in a week, nor 30 in a year. The maximum hours of labour on these days
are 14, including 2 hours for meals.
(b) They may work overtime for not more than 3 days in a week, or 50 in
a year, in factories and workshops in the following industries:—
(1) Making preserves from fruit.
(2) Preserving or curing fish.
(3) Making condensed milk.
The maximum day's labour and the hours for meals are the same as
in (a).
Act of 1878,
s. 59.
Act of 1895,
S. 14. *
Act of 1878,
ss. 44, 45.
(Act of 1901,
ss. 37, 38.)
Act of 1901,
S. 56.
Act of 1878,
SS. 10, 11,
13, 15.
(Act of 1901,
SS. 23, 24.
26.)
Idem.
Exceptions.
Act of 1878,
S. 53.
Act of 1883,
S. 13.
Act of 1895,
ss. 14, 17.
(Act of 1901,
s. 49.)
Act of 1878,
S. 56.
Act of 1883,
s. 13.
Act of 1895,
s. 14.
(Act of 1901,
s. 50.)
oF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 11
Act of 1878,
s. 61.
Act of 1891,
s. 13. &
(Act of 1901,
s. 29.)
Act of 1878,
s. 9.
(Act of 1901,
ss. 12, 13.)
Act of 1891,
s. 17.
(Act of 1901,
s. 61.)
(c) Overtime for women in respect of incomplete processes is the same as GREAT
that for children and young persons (see III. 6, and IV. 3); and in respect BRITAIN.
of Turkey-red dyeing and open-air bleaching, and factories liable to be stopped T
by drought or flood, and Jewish employment, the same as that for young
persons (see TV. 3). . -
(d) In workshops where neither children nor young persons are employed,
women may work as late as 10 p.m. on 5 days of the week, but not more
than 12 hours a day, with 1; hours intervals for rest and meals. On the
remaining working day of the week they may be employed for a specified
period of 8 hours, including half an hour's interval, between 6 a.m. and
4 p.m.
4. The restrictions referred to in paragraph 4 (c) in Part IV., apply to Unhealthy
women, except as regards cleaning dangerous parts of the machinery. "dangerous
Women are subject to the same protection as children and young persons “”
as regards meals in certain classes of factories and workshops and
employment in wet-spinning factories.
As regards “dangerous trades,” women enjoy the same protection as
young persons in the following:— gº
Enamelling of iron plates.
Manufacture and decoration of earthenware.
Making transfers for earthenware and china.
Miaming and asting of brass and certain other alloys.
Electric accumulators.
In white lead factories no woman may be employed in the white beds,
rollers, washbecks, or stoves, or in any other place where dry white lead is
packed, or in other work exposing her to white lead dust.
5. An occupier may not knowingly allow a woman or girl to be employed Employment
in a factory or workshop within four weeks after child-birth. # child-
- 27°//0,
AUSTRIA.”
DESPATCH from His MAJESTY's AMBASSADOR AT VIENNA.
My LORD, - Vienna, June 16, 1905.
$ WITH reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of April 28th
of this series, I have the honour to transmit herewith a report which has
been drawn up by Lord Kilmarnock, from information obtained from the
Ministry of the Interior, showing the extent to which certain resolutions of
the Berlin Ilabour Conference of 1890 are now carried out in Austria.
* . . I have, &c.,
The Marquess of Tansdowne, K.G., (Signed) ALAN JOHNSTONE.
&c., &c., &c.
* NotE.-In pursuance of the resolution of the House of Commons the following communication
was addressed to His Majesty’s Representatives Abroad:—
Copy of CIRCULAR DESPATCH from the For EIGN OFFICE.
SIR, Foreign Office, April 28, 1905.
WITH reference to my circular despatch, commercial, of the 17th March last, I
transmit herewith, for information, the accompanying copy
of a letter from the Home Office transmitting a resolution of the House of Commons praying
for a return showing the terms of certain resolutions of the Berlin Labour Conference of
1890, and the extent to which the recommendations thereof are now carried out in the
countries concerned. [continued.
IB 2
12 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
AUSTRIA. Enclosure in above Despatch.
REPORT.
Section I.-Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
Age of 1.—(a) Children under 14 years of age may not be employed in mines.
children. In exceptional cases children between the ages of 12 and 14 may, on
application by their parents and guardians, and after special permission has
been granted by the mining authority, be employed for light work at the
surface, on condition that the requirements of the law with regard to their
education are not interfered with.
Employment 1.—(b) Women may not be employed in work underground.
of women, -
Section III.-Regulation of Child Labour.
Age. 1, 2, and 3. Children of either sex may not be employed in any industrial
undertaking before reaching the age of 12 years. Children under 14 years
of age may not be employed—
(a) in factories,
(b) in hawking,
(c) in railway construction,
(d) in building operations which give employment to more than
20 workmen simultaneously.
Law of June
21, 1884,
Idem,
Law of Mar.
8, 1885,
Idem.
Law of Feb. 25,
1902.
Law of July
22, 1902.
NoTE—continued, .
I request that you will furnish me with a report on the subject so far as relates to the
country to which you are accredited. -
This circular supersedes my circular despatch of the 17th March last.
I am, with great truth,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant, -
(For the Marquess of Lansdowne) E. GoRST.
Enclosure No. 1 in the above Despatch.
LETTER from the Home OFFICE to the Foreign OFFICE.
SIR, Whitehall, April 11, 1905.
THE King having been pleased to comply with the prayer of an humble Address
presented to His Majesty in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons, dated the
28th ultimo, a copy of which is enclosed herewith, relative to certain resolutions of the
Perlin Labour Conference of 1890, and the extent to which the recommendations thereof
are now carried out in each of the countries concerned, I am directed by Mr. Secretary
Akers-Douglas to request that you will be so good as to move the Marquess of Lansdowne
to cause the desired information to be obtained from His Mujesty’s representatives in the
different countries which were parties to the conference, and forwarded to this Department,
in order that it may be laid before the House of Commons. -
Mr. Akers-Douglas would propose to print in full in the return the despatches received
from His Majesty’s representatives in the countries which were represented at the con-
ference, as in the case of the volume published in 1891 [C. 6371]; and he would be obliged
if His Majesty’s representatives could be asked to insert in their replies full references to
the several laws or decrees bearing on the subjects of the several resolutions mentioned in
the Address.
I am, &c.
The Under Secretary of State, (Signed) HENRY Cuny NGHAME.
Foreign Office.
Enclosure No. 2 in the above Despatch.
ADDRESS of the Honourable the Hous E of CoMMONS, dated Tuesday,
March 28, 1905.
Idem,
International Resolved—That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be
Conference on graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a return showing
Labour. the terms of the following resolutions embodied in the final protocol of the International
Conference on Labour in Factories and Mines, held at Berlin in 1890, namely, Section I.,
1 (a), 1 (6), Section III., I to 7, Section IV., 1 to 5, Section V., I to 5; and the degree to
which the recommendations in each of the said resolutions are now carried out in each of the
countries represented at that conference.
Ordered—That the said Address be presented to His Majesty by such Members of this
House as are of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, or of His Majesty's
Household.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 13
Law of Mar.
8, 1885.
Law of Jan.
16, 1895.
Law of Mar.
8, 1885.
Idem.
Law of Jan.
16, 1895.
Law of Mar.
8, 1885.
Idem.
Idem.
Law of July
28, 1902.
Law of Feb.
25, 1902.
4. The employment of children under 14 years of age must not interfere
with the requirements of their education as fixed by law.
5. Persons under 16 years of age may not work at night.
All industrial work is forbidden on Sundays, except that which is
necessary for the preservation of machinery, repairs which cannot be post-
poned, and a number of categories of industry which do not admit of
interruption on Sunday.
6. The work of children under 14 years of age must not exceed eight
hours a day, and must be broken by a rest of at least one hour at mid-day.
7. Children under 14 years of age may not be employed in industries
harmful to their health or to their corporeal development.
The Ministry of Commerce is authorised to fix by decree the industries
which are dangerous or harmful.
Section IV.-Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
1. Young workers under 16 years of age may not work at night, nor on
Sundays, except in the cases mentioned under Section III., 5.
2 and 3. In factories their actual work may not exceed 11 hours a
day. (This provision applies to all workers of whatever age or sex.) . In
all industrial establishments rests of a total duration of one hour and a half
per diem are obligatory.
In certain cases, exceptions to both these provisions are permitted, by
decree of the Ministry of Commerce.
4. The employment of young workers under 16 years of age in industries
harmful to their health, or to their corporeal development, is not allowed.
Such industries are designated by the Ministry of Commerce, but special
mention is made of factories, railway construction, and building operations in
which more than 20 workmen are employed simultaneously. In all these
industries the employment of workers under 16 years of age is forbidden, if
it is likely to be harmful or dangerous to their health.
5. No special protection is given to young workers between the ages of
16 and 18. They are, however, included in the general limitation of the
working day to 11 hours, and enjoy the universal Sunday rest.
Section V-Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1.—(a) and (b). Girls and women of whatever age are not allowed to
work at night.
Exceptions are, however, permitted by ministerial decree.
2. In factories their work is limited to a maximum of 11 hours a day.
In all industrial establishments their work must be broken by rests of a
total duration of one and a half hours. .
3. Exceptions may be made as under Section IV., 3.
4. Women may not be employed in dangerous or harmful industries.
Such industries are designated by decree of the Ministry of Commerce.
Women employed on railway construction may only undertake light
work. -
The employment of women over 18 years of age in hawking may be
restricted or prohibited by the competent authority. -
AUSTRIA.
Education.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
Work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations,
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over
16.
Night work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
B 3
14 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
AUSTRIA.
Employment
after child.
birth.
Age of
children.
5. Women after child-birth are not admitted to work for four weeks
after delivery.
It will be observed from the above that nearly all the recommendations
contained in the resolutions referred to in the Address are at present in
force in Austria. The most important provisions which have not been
carried into effect are–
Section III., 6.-The work of children under 14 years of age is limited
to 8 instead of to 6 hours per diem.
Section IV., 2.-The hours of labour of young workers between 14 and
16 years of age are not limited to 10 hours. They only enjoy the
same protection as all workmen, viz., a maximum day of 11 hours.
Section IV., 5.—Nothing has been done to protect in any special way
young workers from 16 to 18 years of age.
(Signed) KILMARNOCK.
BELGIUM.
DESPATCH from HIS MAJESTY's MINISTER AT BRUSSELs.
My LoRD, Brussels, May 1, 1905.
WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch circular, commercial, of
the 28th ultimo, I have the honour to enclose a Memorandum which has
been drawn up in this Legation, showing the extent to which the recom-
mendations of the Berlin Labour Conference of 1890 are now carried out in
Belgium, in regard to the points indicated in the resolution of the House of
Commons of March 28th last.
Full references to the several laws or decrees bearing upon the subjects
enumerated in the resolution are given.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CONSTANTINE PHIPPs.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G.,
&c., &c., &c.
Enclosure in above Despatch.
MEMORANDUM.
Section I.-Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
1.—(a) Children under 12 years of age cannot be employed in work
(travail) of any description.
As to work in mines (travaux des mines), “the King can authorise
“ the employment of certain categories of workers, male and female, above
“ 14 years of age, as well as the employment from 4 a.m. of male children
“ of i2 years of age completed.”
Male children of 12 years of age completed can be employed underground
from 4 a.m. The hours of rest must not be less than one eighth of the hours
of labour,
The duration of work in underground labour in mines (including going
up and down) of male children under 16 years of age is fixed at a maximum
of 10; hours.
1.—(b) Girls and women under 21 years of age cannot be employed
Law of Mar.
28, 1885.
Law of Dec.
13, 1889.
Art. 2,
Idem,
Art. 6.
Arrélé Mar.
15, 1893.
Art. 5,
Idem.,
Art. 2.
Employment
underground.
of women.
Law of Dec.
13, 1889.
Art. 9.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE.
15
Law of Dec.
13, 1889.
Art, 2.
Idem,
Art. 6.
Arrêté Dec.
26, 1892.
Art. 3.
Idem.,
Art. 5.
Law of Dec.
13, 1889.
Art. 6.
Idem,
Art. 7.
Idem, *
Art. 4.
Idem,
Art. 6.
Idem,
Art. 5.
Section III—Regulation of Child Labour.
1, 2, and 3. The limit of age is fixed at 12 years.
4. There are no provisions in Belgian law concerning primary education.
5, Children below 14 years of age may work neither at night nor on
Sundays, except in certain industries which cannot suffer interruption or
delay.
6. Their actual work cannot exceed six hours a day, and must be broken
by a rest of at least three quarters of an hour.
7. (also IV. 4 and V. 4). Restrictions are provided for unhealthy or
dangerous occupations. An arrété dated February 19th, 1895, sets forth in
detail the industries in which the employment of women and children is
prohibited.
Section IV.-Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
1. Workers of either sex from 14 to 16 years of age may not work at
night, but their employment between 9 p.m. and 5 p.m. is authorised in the
* ºr *
following industries:—Paper, Sugar, mirror-making, zinc mills, cut-glass and
pottery, enamelled goods, fish preserving, window-glass, mines, the Mariemont
coal mines, coke, and metallurgy.
Work on Sundays is forbidden except in the window-glass, coke, and
metallurgical industries.
2 and 3. The hours per day vary from eight in the type-founding industry
to 11% in cotton spinning and kindred industries, but the average is 10% hours.
There must be intervals of repose of at least one and a half hours' duration.
4. See III., 7, above.
5. Legal protection is not afforded to youths over 16 years of age.
Section W.-Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1. –(a) Women from 16 to 21 years cannot be employed at night except
in the following industries:—Sugar, cut-glass, fish preserving, window-glass,
mining, and metallurgy.
1.—(b) Belgian law provides no protection (as to hours and character of
labour) for women over 21 years of age.
2 and 3. The conditions are the same as those for young workers between
14 and 16 years, except in the mining industries, where they may be employed
ll hours. -
4. See III., 7, above.
5. Women are not admitted to work for four weeks after child-birth.
DENMARK.
DESPATCH from HIS MAJESTY's MINISTER AT CoPENHAGEN.
My LORD, Copenhagen, 12 May 1905.
WITH reference to your Lordship's commercial circular of the
28th April last, I have the honour to forward a report, which has been
prepared by Mr. Leech, showing the extent to which the Danish Government
have complied with certain of the recommendations embodied in the Final
Protocol of the Berlin Labour Conference of 1890.
I have, &c.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G., (Signed) W. E. GoschEN.
&c., &c., &c.
BELGIUM.
Age.
Education.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Flours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over
16.
Night work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Employment
after child-
birth.
B 4
16 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
DENMARK.
Enclosure in above Despatch.
REPORT By MR. LEECH.
Most of the recommendations of the Final Protocol of the Berlin Labour
Conference of 1890 have been carried out by the Danish Government in the
law of 11th April 1901, for regulating and controlling work in manufactories
and similar establishments.
I.—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
1.—(a) and (b). There are no mines in Denmark, and consequently no
mining regulations.
FACTORIES, &c.
For the purpose of the law, manufactories are defined as: Factories,
• manufacturing workshops, and other mechanical and industrial establish-
Age.
|Education.
Night and
Sunday
work,
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupatºons.
Boys over 16.
ments where a number of workpeople are regularly occupied together, away
from their homes, in premises wholly or partially roofed. -
This definition excludes those establishments where a man works assisted
by his wife and children; also agricultural establishments, including dairies.
III–Regulation of Child Labour.
1 and 2. Children under 12 years of age are excluded from work in
factories.
3. This limit of age applies to all factories.
4. There is no obligation for children to have attained any special educa-
tional standard before being employed in factories.
5. Children are not permitted to work between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., nor
during school hours or those devoted to confirmation classes, or during the
hour and a half previous to the opening of such classes, nor on Sundays or
on Church holidays. N,
6. Children are not permitted to work more than six hours a day, and
may not work for longer than four and a half hours without a period of at
least half an hour's rest.
7. Nobody under 18 years of age can be employed in occupations which
are considered dangerous or unhealthy.
IV.--Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
2. Replies to these points are given in the Regulations (already
e referred to) of Child Labour.
3.
4. J
5.—(a) No young man (or woman) who has left school but has not
aftained the age of 18 is permitted to work more than 10 hours a day,
nor for longer than four and a half hours at a time without a period of at
least half an hour's rest.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 17
(b) The Minister of the Interior, on the advice of the Council of Labour, DENMARK.
can grant permission to young men of over 15 years of age to work between sºmº-ºº:
the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. to a moderate extent, should it appear
necessary in the interests of their professional development. Otherwise they
may not work between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
(c) Sunday work is regulated by the law of 22nd April 1904, which lays
down that no work shall be carried on in manufactories, &c. On Church
holidays.
It is in the province of the Minister of the Interior to decide in doubtful
cases whether the establishment in question is to be looked upon as a
manufactory within the meaning of the law.
He is authorised to grant exceptions in the following cases:—
(i) If the trades in question can, according to their nature, be only
carried on at certain times of the year, or are dependent upon
elemental power or other circumstances of an irregular nature.
Under any circumstances, however, those employed must have
half the Sundays in the year free.
(ii) If the occupations in question, according to their nature or on account
of the daily requirements of the population necessitate uninter-
rupted working. In such cases those employed must be free
every other Sunday.
Dairies aré excepted from the restriction in regard to Sundays cf (i).
The setting-up and printing of daily papers is forbidden on holidays of
the State Church from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. . The local police may give per-
mission for the performance of work which cannot be delayed, as well as
for the requisite cleaning and repairing of machinery and tools.
(d) Reply to this point is the same as in the case of child labour (vide
above).
V.—Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1.—(a) Girls and women under 18 may not work from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
(b) Girls and women over 21 are not restricted from Working at
night.
Night work.
2 and 3. The regulations for the Work of girls and women up to the age Hour, of
of 18 is the same as that for young men (already given). After that age work.
there are no restrictions. -
3. The same applies to this point.
4. Wide regulation for child labour. - Unhealthy
or dangerous
- occupations.
5. A woman is not allowed to work for four weeks after childbirth Employment
without a doctor's certificate that she can do so without danger to her own of women
health or that of her child. # child-
FRANCE.
DESPATCH from HIS MAJESTY's AMBAssador AT PARIs.
My LORD, - Paris, July 18, 1905.
I HAVE"the honour to transmit herewith a Memorandum drawn up by
Sir Henry Austin Lee in compliance with the instructions contained in
your Lordship's circular despatch of the 28th of April last, showing the
291. C
18 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
FRANCE.
*me
Age of
children.
Employment
of women.
Age and
education.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
*
degree to which the Resolutions embodied in the Final Protocol of the
International Conference on Labour in Factories and Mines, held at Berlin
in 1890, have been carried out in France. -
I have, &c.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G., (Signed) FRANCIS BERTIE.
&c., &c., &c.
Enclosure in above Despatch.
MEMORANDUM.
The resolutions of the Berlin Labour Conference of 1890, referred to in
the Foreign Office Circular, Commercial, of the 28th April last, have prac-
tically with only one exception been put into force of law in France. The
legislation on the subject is shown in the following statement, which has
been drawn up in accordance with the information contained in the collection
of laws and decrees relating to the regulation of labour in France.
Section I.--Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
1.—(a) Children below the age of 13 years complete are
excluded from
work in mines. -
(b) Girls and women cannot be employed in underground work.
Section III.--Regulation of Child Labour.
1, 2, 3, and 4. Children , below the age of 13 years complete are
certificate may be employed from the age of 12, subject to certain restric-
tions as to physical capacity for work.
5. Children under 18 years of age, young girls and women, are
excluded from night work, and cannot be employed more than six days
per week, nor on legal holidays. -
6. This recommendation has not been adopted.
7. Children, girls, and women cannot be employed in unhealthy or
dangerous occupations, subject to certain exceptions.
Section IV.-Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
1. Children under 18 years of age, young girls, and women are excluded
from night work, and cannot be employed more than six days per week, nor
on legal holidays.
2. Young workmen and work women up to the age of 18, and women,
cannot be employed more than 10 hours a day, broken by one or more rests
of at least a total duration of one hour, during which time work is forbidden.
3. Women and girls over 18 years of age may be employed in certain
industries, such as embroidery, trimmings, hat manufactories, dressmaking,
&c., until 11 o'clock at night during certain periods without, however,
exceeding 60 days in the year, nor in any case more than 12 hours actual
work in 24.
Certain permanent exceptions are stipulated with regard to the hours of
labour in starch works, printing and newspaper shops, and in mines (lighting
of lamps), but the working time is limited to seven hours in 24.
Night work is also tolerated temporarily during 60 days in the year,
without, however, exceeding 10 in 24, in the manufacture of butter, cheese,
glue, confectionery, preserved fruits, vegetables, fish, &c.
Law of Nov.
2, 1892, Arts.
2 and 9.
Idem, Art. 9.
e Idem, Art 2.
excluded from work in factories, but children holding a primary school -
Idem, Arts.
4 and 5.
Idem, Art.
12, et seq.,
and decree
of May 13,
1893.
Law of Nov.
2, 1892, Arts.
4 and 5.
Idem, Art. 3,
and law of
Mar. 30,
1900.
Decree of
July 15,
1893.
Certain other exceptions to the Law are tolerated in the case of women
and lads employed at night in ironworks, glass works, &c., and the labour
inspectors are authorised temporarily to waive the restrictions with regard
to the hours of work in numerous specified occupations. . -
OF THE BERLIN LAB00R CONFERENCE. 19
FRANCE,
Decree of
May 13,
1893.
Law of Nov.
2, 1892, Art.
3, and law of
Mar. 30
1900.
Law of Nov.
2, 1892, Arts.
4 and 5.
Decrees of
May 3 and
13, 1893.
Ilaw of Nov.
2, 1892,
Art. 4.
Idem, Art. 3,
and law of
Mar. 30,
1900.
Decree of
13 July
1893.
Idem,
4. It is forbidden to employ children under 18 years of age, young girls FRANCE.
and women, in greasing, cleaning, attending to or repairing machinery Unhealth
tº { } & tº , ſº e g 3. nhealthy
in motion, and numerous restrictions are in force with regard to labour or angerºus
involving the mechanical action of machines, the use of saws, sharp instru- occupations,
ments, glass-blowing, lifting of heavy weights, &c. Regulations also exist
respecting employment in unhealthy or dangerous occupations.
5. (a) Young workmen up to the age of 18 cannot be employed more than Boys over 16.
10 hours a day, broken by one or more rests of at least an hour, during
which time work is forbidden.
(b) and (c). Children under 18 years of age are excluded from night
work, and cannot be employed more than six days per week, nor on legal
holidays.
(d) Underground work in mines is limited in the case of boys under
16 years of age to 8 hours in 24, and for lads of 16 to 18 years of age to
10 hours per day, and not more than 54 hours per week. The latter cannot
be employed in what is properly known as miners’ work, except as helpers or
apprentices, and then only for not more than five hours a day. Regulations
exist respecting the nature of the labour assigned to children and lads
employed in mines, and the same restrictions as refer to girls and women in
dangerous or unhealthy occupations apply to young workmen under 18 years
of age.
Section V.--Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1. (a) and (b). Girls and women cannot be employed at night in any Night work.
works, manufactory, mine, quarry, yard, or workshop of whatever nature,
public or private, lay or religious, even when these establishments are of an
educational or charitable character. All labour between the hours of 9 p.m.
and 5 a.m. is considered night work. In certain specified industries, how-
ever, women and girls over 18 years of age are allowed to be employed until
11 p.m. at certain periods of the year, but not exceeding a total duration of
60 days in the year, and in no case must a day's work be prolonged over
12 hours. Certain permanent exemptions are in force with regard to night
work, but the hours of labour must in no case exceed seven during the 24.
Exceptions to the regulations are also allowed in the case of stoppage of
work resulting from accident or force majeure, but only with permission
from the inspector of labour, and for a fixed duration of time.
2. Young work-girls up to the age of 18 and women cannot be employed Hours of
more than 10 hours a day, broken by rests of a total duration of at least an work.
hour during which time all work is forbidden.
3. See legislation concerning labour of the young—above quoted.
4. See legislation respecting labour of the young—above quoted. Unhealthy
or dangerows
- occupations.
5. A Bill to the effect that women after childbirth may not be admitted Employment
to work for four weeks after delivery has been voted by the Senate, and is ſº chº
now before the Chamber of Deputies. birth.
Paris, July 17, 1905.
GERMANY.
DESPATCH FROM HIS MAJESTY's AMBASSADOR AT BERLIN.
My LORD, - Berlin, May 11, 1905.
WITH reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of this series,
of the 28th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith a report by
Mr. Charles Bentinck, Attaché to His Majesty’s Embassy, showing the
C 2
20 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
GERMANY.
-*-
Age of
children.
Employment
of women.
Age.
Education.
extent to which the recommendations contained in certain resolutions
of the Berlin Labour Conference of 1890 are now carried out in Germany.
I have, &c.
(Signed) FRANK C. LASCELLEs.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G.,
&c., &c., &c.
Enclosure in above Despatch.
REPORT ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS OF THE BERLIN TABOUR
CoNFERENCE 1890 HAVE BEEN PUT INTo FoRCE IN GERMANY.
Section I.--Work in Mines.
1.— (a) Children under 13 may not work in mines,
In April 1903 a law came into force, replacing that of February 1895,
and valid for 10 years, ordaining that in Prussia, Baden, and Alsace-
Lorraine, boys above 14 might be employed above ground in working
at coal mines. -
(i) Periods of work were to be for eight hours including pauses.
(ii) Work was not to begin before 5 a.m. nor to continue after 11 p.m.,
excepting on the eve of a Sunday or a holiday, when it might
commence at 4 a.m. and continue on the next work day after
the holiday to one o'clock at night. Boys were not to be obliged
to work on Sundays.
(iii) A rest of at least 15 hours was to be accorded to youths between
two work periods, excepting those immediately preceding or
succeeding a holiday, when the interim rest was not to be less
than 13 hours.
(iv) During work hours, youths were each day to be allowed certain
pauses of 10 or 15 minutes, comprising in all one hour.
These pauses were not obligatory in a work the nature of which was
broken by interruptions, but the work might not, in that case, exceed
six hours. -
Youths might only be employed for work in mines after having obtained
a doctor's certificate that the proposed work would not be injurious to
their health.
The higher authorities are at liberty, where necessary, to introduce
certain modifications. - -
1.——(b) In mines, salt-pans, quarries, &c., women are not allowed to
work underground.
In April 1892 a law came into force, being valid until 1907, which
prescribed that women over 18 years who assist men in working the mines,
should not be made to work more than 10 hours, in which time several
pauses were to be accorded them, comprising not less than one hour in all.
The following was decreed in regard to coal, zinc, or lead mines, in which
women over 16 years were employed. Where there were two periods of
work a day, the first period might not begin before 4.30 a.m., and the
second might not continue after 10 p.m.
Neither period was to exceed eight hours; a pause of at least half an hour
was to be granted somewhere between the second and sixth hours.
A doctor's certificate had to be obtained, declaring that the woman
was capable of undertaking the work, without danger to her health.
Further laws in regard to the labour of women at mines are similar
to those on female labour in factoriès generally. -
Section III-Regulation of Child Labour.
1, 2, 3, and 4. By the law of July 13, 1900, it was ordained that children
under 13 years may not be employed in factories or other workshops; and
over 13 they may then only be employed when they have finished with the
elementary Schools. -
Law of
July 1900.
Law of
April 1903.
Law of
1 June 1891.
Laws of 24
June 1892,
27 Dec.1892,
and 5 Mar.
1901.
Ław of
April 1892.
Laws of -
Mar. 1892
and Mar.
1902.
Law of
13 July
1900.
OF THE BERLIN JABOUR CONFERENCE.
2]
Law of
30 Mar.
1903.
Law of July
H900.
Law of
17 Dec.
1900.
Laws of
31 May 1897,
17 Feb. 1904,
and 1 Jan.
1901.
Law of
27 May
1902.
Laws of
30 Mar.
1903, 30
Nov. 1903,
and 1 Jan.
1904.
Law of
13 July
1900.
Idem.
Law of Nov.
1900.
The law defines “children’’ as boys and girls under 13, and those who
still attend the elementary schools.
In workshops, commercial or transport business, in carrying goods, such
as newspapers, milk, bread, &c., children under 12 may not be employed
at all,” those over 12, not at night nor before morning school.
Such work may not exceed three hours, except when the children
have school holidays, when it may not pass the limit of four hours. At
mid-day they must have a two-hours' break, and they may not begin for
an hour after afternoon school.
5. Children may not work between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 a.m. A law
of 17th December 1903, valid until 31st December 1905, permitted certain
exceptions; those over 12 may, in some cases, commence at 6.30 a.m., but
they must stop at morning school or half an hour before service on Sundays.
Children may not be obliged to work on Sundays and holidays—
i.e., from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.—they may, however, be employed for two hours'
errands, but not after l o'clock nor during the hours of divine service.
6. Below the age of 16 they may only be employed for 10 hours a day,
but in workshops connected with the polishing or cutting of glass, stories, or
metals, work may not exceed six hours daily.
The same rule applies to places where clothes are made and washed.
By a law of January 1, 1901, these rules were also enforced in bakers'
and pastry-cooks' shops. In cases of emergency, however, the work of a
child may be increased from six to eight hours in the 24, but they must
have 12 hours' rest between work, and, during work hours, pauses, comprising
one hour in all, must be permitted.
In other cases the laws regulating the hours of labour of young people,
and the pauses during work, are to be applied to children also. Where
exceptions to the regular hours in certain factories are necessary, the weekly
work of a child may not exceed 36 hours.
7. Children under 14 may not work in foundries or rolling mills.
By a law of 30th March 1903, enforced by decree of 30th November
1903, and which came into force on January 1, 1904, industrial occupations,
work in buildings, brick-yards, mines above ground, cellars, stone breaking,
and other unhealthy or dangerous occupations, were prohibited to children.
Local modifications to the law are permitted for one’s own children,
and for those closely connected by blood or otherwise, when there is no
fear of moral or other dangers accruing.
In cases of emergency, special exceptions to the above rules are permitted,
and the local police have the power, in particular cases, where they may
deem it necessary, to forbid the employment of a child.
Section IV.- Labour of the Young.
1. The recommendation was enforced in July 1900 by a law prescribing
that young people may not begin to work before 5.30 a.m., and may not
continue after 8.30 p.m. On Sundays and holidays they may not work, nor
during the hours in which they are required by the clergyman of the parish
for catechism or other religious instruction. .
2. This law prescribed that young people between the ages of 14 and 16
may not work in factories more than 10 hours a day. Regular rests must be
granted each day during the hours of work; a pause of half an hour must be
allowed to those who work for six hours, but in other cases the rests or
pauses must consist of an hour at mid-day, and half an hour both in the
morning and afternoon, except when the work does not last longer than
eight hours, of which half is done in the morning and half in the afternoon, in
which case only the mid-day pause is necessary.
3. Should the kind of industry, or consideration for the workers in certain
factories, require that the work of young people should be arranged in another
Law 0
J900.
July
* For one's own children this minimum age is 10 years.
GERMANY.
sºmºmº
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
f/ours of
work.
C 3
GERMANY.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over 16.
22 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENL)ATIONS
manner to that given above, other arrangements may be made in regard to
the pauses; the Bundesrat may then shorten or even abolish such pauses, but
in all such cases the youthful workers may not be employed more than six
hours, if, between the work, breaks of at least one hour in all, are not allowed.
Special exceptions were made for handicraftsmen, as bookbinders, brush-
makers, workers in gold and silver, &c., and enforced in January 1901.
In industries where, at a certain time of the year, there is regularly an
increased need of labour, the Bundesrat may also make exceptions, provided
work does not exceed 13 hours, a day and 10 hours on Saturdays. Such
exceptions may not be allowed for more than 40 days in the year, unless the
average work per day in the whole year does not exceed the amount of hours
fixed by law.
The Bundesrat has the power to make exceptions to the law in certain
industries where an uninterrupted fire is required, or where regular day and
night work is necessary, where work is limited to certain seasons, or in
factories where the work cannot be divided into certain fixed hours.
Slight modifications were introduced into the hours of the following
industries: In chicory factories by a law of 31st January 1902, valid for
10 years; in glass manufactories, sugar refineries, coal, zinc, and lead mines,
by a law of March 1902, also valid for 10 years; in rolling and iron mills by
a law of May 1902, of 10 years’ validity ; in the preparation of hides and rags
by a law of the 27th February 1903; and in brick-yards the law of November
1903 was enforced in the following January in place of the laws of 1898.
But the weekly work of young people may not exceed 60 hours; in brick-yards
70 hours is the limit. aº
4. Where certain branches of industry appear dangerous to the health or
morals of the young, the Bundesrat is empowered entirely to prohibit them
or to make them dependent upon certain conditions.
5.—(a) A maximum day’s work may not exceed 11 hours in the 24, and
between work periods there must always be a rest of at least 10 hours.
(b) In cases where the nature of the industry requires night work, it
may not exceed 10 hours in the 24, and must be broken by pauses of one hour
in all, and 12 hours' rest must divide the work periods. In alternate weeks
the night work must be exchanged for day work.
(c) Young people may not be made to work on Sundays and holidays
between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and only immediately after and before these hours,
if at the beginning and the end they be given a complete 24 hours’ rest. In
special cases where Sunday work is permitted, it may only take place on
alternate Sundays.
(d) In granting exceptions to rules, the “Regierungspräsidenten”
(principal local authorities) have to make sure that the work is not injurious
to the bodily or mental health of the young worker. The work establishments
must be in a good Sanitary condition, and the industry conducted in a proper
ICl2,Il Il 62I’.
When such exceptions as prescribed in paragraph 3 are allowed, and in
cases where night work and Sunday work is permitted, the health of the
workers must always be considered, and any extra work should not continue
longer than is necessary to make up for an interruption, or to keep pace with
the temporary increase of labour. -
In glass manufactories, rolling and iron mills, &c., where a great heat is
kept up, so that women and children are prohibited from working in such
places, young men may only be allowed to work if they can produce a doctor's
certificate saying that it is not injurious to their health, and then the following
rules must be adhered to :—
Work, inclusive of pauses, may not exceed 12 hours, or 10 hours exclusive
of pauses.
It may not exceed 60 hours in the week. Half-hour pauses must be
allowed, and 12 hours' rest. -
Law of Jan.
1901.
Law of
31 Jan.
1902.
Law of Mar.
1902.
Law of May
1902.
Laws cf
27 Feb.
1903 and
Nov. 1903.
Law of July
1900.
Law of May
1902.
Law of April
1902 of 10
years’
validity.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 23
Law of
13 July
1900.
Idem,
Law of Mar.
1892.
Laws of
July 1895
and Mar.
1898.
Law of June
1892,
revised by
decree, Mar.
1901.
Law, 1 Jan.
1901.
Section V-Regulation of Female Labour.
1. By a law of the 13th July 1900 it was prohibited for women to work in
factories at night between the hours of 8.30 p.m. and 5.30 a.m., and on
Saturdays and on the eve of holidays they may not be employed after 5 p.m.
For those who do not have to keep house, this hour may be prolonged to
8.30 p.m. under pressure of business. * -
2. Women over 16 may not work more than 11 hours a day, and on the
eve of Sundays and holidays not more than 10.
Between the hours of labour, they must be allowed a pause at mid-day of
at least one hour. (This can be reduced to half an hour in cases where the
work is in itself interrupted, and where two other pauses of at least one
quarter of an hour each are granted during the day.)
Those who have to keep house, must, at their request, be let off half an
hour before the mid-day rest, unless this lasts at least an hour and a half.
By a law of 1st January 1901 this rule is to be applied also in bakers' shops
and at pastry-cooks', which cannot be classed as “factories.”
By reason of extraordinary pressure of business, the authorities may,
during two weeks, prolong the time of work for women over 16 to 10 p.m.,
except on Saturdays, provided the day's work do not exceed 13 hours, and a
rest cf 10 hours be granted between the end of one day's work and the
beginning of the next. Such permission cannot be obtained for more than
80 days in the year and the average hours per day in the year may never
exceed the stipulated 11 hours.
If, through some misfortune or other occurrence, the regular work of a
factory should be interrupted, exceptions to the regular hours may be granted
for four weeks. Work should, however, not continue longer than is necessary
to finish the extra work, or to make up for an interruption. In all cases regard
must be had to the health of the women and young people.
Exceptions may be obtained to the established hours in certain industries
where it may be deemed necessary, such as in dairies and establishments for
sterilising milk; in preserves and chicory factories; in glass manufactories; in
sugar refineries; in coal, zinc, and lead mines; in rolling and iron mills, and
in brickyards. (See Section IV. Regulations concerning Labour of the Young.)
3. The Bundesrat has the power to make exceptions to the law in certain
industries where an uninterrupted fire is required, or where regular day and
night work is necessary, where work is limited to certain seasons of the year,
or in factories where work cannot be divided into certain “periods.” Still,
however, the weekly work of a woman may not exceed 65 hours, and 70 hours
in brickyards.
4. In mines, Saltpans, quarries, and work establishments women may not
work underground. When certain branches of factory occupations are
deemed dangerous to the health—as in glass-cutting and glass manufactories
where furnaces are kept up, and where there is an extraordinary heat—or
injurious to the morals, the Bundesrat is empowered to entirely forbid women
to work in them, or to make their work dependent upon certain conditions.
5. For four weeks after child-birth, women may not work, and they may
only be employed during the next two weeks if they have a doctor's certificate
permitting it.
This rule for factories also applies to bakers' and pastry cooks' shops, by a
law which came into force on January 1st, 1901, supplementary to the law
for bakers of March 4th, 1896.
Women employed in bathing establishments form an exception to the
above rules.
GERMANY.
Might work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Employment
after child-
birth.
C} 4
24 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Holland.
Age of
children.
Employment
of women.
Age.
Education.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
HOLLAND.
DESPATCH FROM HIS MAJESTY's MINISTER AT THE HAGUE.
MY LORD, The Hague, August 29, 1905.
IN compliance with the request contained in your Lordship's circular
despatch of this series of the 28th of April, I have the honour to
transmit here with a memorandum showing the extent to which the recom-
mendations of the Berlin Labour Conference of 1890 have been carried out
in the Netherlands. -
I have, &c.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, K.G., (Signed) HENRY HowARD.
&c., &c., &c.
Enclosure in above Despatch.
RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED IN HOLLAND.
I.—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
1(a). ( There is no legal prohibition of the employment of women
and children underground, but it was stated at the Conference in
1890 that no persons under 18 and no women were to be found
- - underground.
1(b). Under the provisions of a recent law the employment under-
| ground of women and girls of all ages, and of boys below 16, may
| be prohibited by Royal Decree. 2
III.-Regulation of Child Labour.
1, 2, and 3. Children under 12 years of age may not be employed in any
trade or industry except agriculture, gardening, forestry, cattle-keeping, or
peat-working. Children under 12 may be employed by apothecaries, and
in kitchens and such like places where food and drinks are prepared for
immediate use, and in the ordinary duties of the household or stables.
4. With the exception of children who receive efficient instruction
otherwise, attendance of children at an elementary school is compulsory
until the child has passed through the class in which it was placed on
attaining the age of 13 years. In the case of children who have reached a
certain standard of proficiency the higher limit of age for compulsory school
attendance may be reduced to not less than 12 years.
5. Children under 14 years of age may not be employed between the
hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., nor on Sundays.
In certain industries the employment of children under 14 may be
Law of April
27, 1904,
Art. 9.
Law of May
5, 1889,
Art. 3.
Law of July
7, 1900,
Arts. 1 and 2.
Law of May
5, 1889,
Arts. 5 and 7.
authorised by Royal Decree up to 10 p.m. under such conditions as may be
deemed necessary. In special circumstances similar extensions of hours of
work may be authorised for brief periods by the Royal Commissioner for the
Province, and, in urgent cases, by the Burgomaster.
Children belonging to religious communities not observing Sunday must
not be employed on the holy day or weekly day of rest of their religion.
6. The hours of work for children under 14 may not exceed 11. In
special circumstances authority may be given for the temporary increase Of
the working hours to 13.
A rest of one hour must be allowed between the hours of 11 a.m. and
3 p.m., and during this period the children may not remain in an enclosed
place where work is then being carried on.
Law of May
5, 1889,
Art. 5.
Idem, Art, 6.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 25
HOLLAND.
Idem, Art. 4.
Idem, Art. 5.
Idem, Art, 7.
Idem, Art. 5.
Idem, Art. 6.
7. The employment of young persons under 16 years of age in unhealthy
or dangerous occupations is regulated by Royal Decrees of 16th March,
13th May, and 4th November 1903, which set forth the industries deemed
to come within this description.
IV.--Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
1. Young persons under 16 years of age may not be employed between
the hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. For certain industries extensions of the hours
of work up to 10 p.m. may be authorised by Royal Decree, and in special
circumstances temporary extension up to the same hour may be authorised
by the Government Commissioner of the Province, and, in urgent cases, by the
Burgomaster.
Young persons under 16 years of age may not be employed on Sunday;
if they belong to a religious community which does not observe Sunday, in
lieu of Sunday their weekly day of rest may be taken on the holy day of
their religion.
For certain trades the employment of male persons between 14 and 16
years of age may be authorised by Royal Decree up to 6 a.m.
The Burgomaster may grant permission for the employment of a male
person under 16 for a single Sunday for the repair or cleaning of a steam
boiler in a factory.
2 and 3. Young persons under 16 years of age may not be employed more
than eleven hours per day. In special circumstances a temporary extension
to thirteen hours for young persons between 14 and 16 years of age may be
authorised by the Government Commissioner of the Province, and, in urgent
cases, by the Burgomaster.
A rest of at least one hour must be allowed between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
For certain factories and workshops a modification or diminution of the
period of rest may be authorised. During the period of rest the young
persons may not remain in an enclosed space where work is then being
carried on.
Idem, Art. 4.
Law of May
22, 1905.
Ilaw of May
5, 1889,
Art. 5.
4. The employment of young persons under 16 in unhealthy or dangerous
occupations is regulated by Royal Decrees of the 16th March, 13th May, and
4th November 1903, which specify the occupations falling within these
descriptions.
5. No special protection is extended to young men aged from 16 to
18 years as regards—
(a) a maximum day’s labour;
(b) night work; or
(c) Sunday work.
As regards (d) “employment in unhealthy or dangerous occupations,”
some restrictions have been imposed with respect to building works under an
air pressure higher than the atmosphere, and the manufacture of phosphorus
matches.
V.—Regulations concerning Female Labour.
\ ſ
1 (a) Girls and women are prohibited from working in factories and
1 (b) tworkshops between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
For certain factories the hours of working for women and girls may be
extended by Royal Decree to 10 p.m., and in special circumstances similar
extensions may be granted temporarily by the Government Commissioner of
the Province, or, in urgent cases, by the Burgomaster.
For certain places authority may be granted by Royal Decree for the
employment of women above 16 years of age to broach herrings durin
the period from 1st October to 15th March not later than 12 o'clock at night,
and from 15th March to 1st June not later than 2 o’clock a.m., with the
understanding that the number of hours during which that work shall be
done shall not amount to more than eight in the twenty-four.
291. - D
HOLLAND.
Unhealthy
or dangerous.
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of"
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over 16-
Night work.
26 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONs
HOLLAND.
Unhealthy
A period of rest amounting to at least one hour must be allowed between Idem, Art. 6.
11 a.m. and 3 p.m. For certain factories and workshops authority may be
granted for the modification or diminution of the period of rest. During the
period of rest the women may not remain in an enclosed place where work is
then being carried on.
4. The employment of women in unhealthy or dangerous occupations Idem, Art. 4.
or dangerous is regulated by Royal Decrees of the 16th March, 13th May, , and
occupations.
Employment
after child-
birth.
Age of
children.
Employment
of women.
4th November 1903. The decrees specify the industries falling within
this category.
5. It is forbidden to employ a woman in factories or workshops within Idem, Art. 8.
four weeks after her confinement.
HUN GARY.
DESPATCH FROM His MAJESTY's MINISTER AT BUDA PESTH.
My LoRD, - Buda Pest, June 27, 1905.
IN execution of the instructions contained in your Lordship's circular
despatch of this series of the 28th April last, I have the honour to report
that since the Berlin Labour Conference of 1890 no further Acts have been
passed in the Hungarian legislation concerning the carrying out of the
recommendations referred to in the resolutions embodied in Section I., 1 (a),
1 (b), Section III., 1 to 7, Section IV., 1 to 5, and Section W., 1 to 5 of the
Final Protocol of the said International Conference. -
As to the regulations in force in Hungary concerning the employment
of women and children in factories, I understand that a Bill is being prepared
modifying the provisions laid down in Act XVII of the year 1884, contained
in the paper handed in by the President of the International Conference
at the sitting of March 17, 1890. Protocol No. 2 (see Appendix, page 184
of Commercial No. 16 (1890)). l
- I have, &c.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G., (Signed) E. S. CLARKE.
&c., &c., &c.
The following particulars have been extracted from the Blue Book
containing the proceedings of the Conference [C.—6042, of 1890] :-
I.—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
1.—(a) The age of admission to mines is the same as in other industries.
(See III., 1, 2, and 3 below.) The inspectors, however, endeavour to restrict
the admission to mines of children below 14 years. In fact, there are not
more than a few hundred of them.
1.—(b) The employment of women underground is not prohibited.
III.-Regulation of Child Labour.
1, 2, and 3. Children under 10 years of age are not permitted to work in
factories. Children between 10 and 12 years of age may only be admitted
as apprentices, and with the consent of the industrial authority.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 27
4. Children between 10 and 12 years of age may only be employed in
factories if such employment does not interfere with their regular attendance
at school, or if instruction is provided in special schools.
5. Children under 14 may not work in factories at night.
Children (and all other persons) employed in factories must be allowed
the time necessary to attend divine service on the holy days and festivals of
their religion.
6. Children between 12 and 14 years of age may work only eight hours
each day, or if apprentices, ten hours. They must be allowed a half hour's
rest in the morning, and one hour's rest in the latter part of the day.
7. In factories devoted to industries which have been declared unhealthy
or dangerous by an Order of the Minister of Commerce, children may only
be employed to the extent and under the conditions prescribed by the said
Minister.
IV.-Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
1. With the following exception, young persons under 16 years of age
are not permitted to work at night, i.e., from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. In industries
which do not admit of an interruption during the night, the industrial
authority may permit one half of the daily period for which young persons
above 14 years of age are allowed to work to be devoted to night work.
All persons employed in factories must be allowed the time necessary to
attend divine service on the holy days and festivals of their religion.
2. Young persons between 14 and 16 years of age may work only ten
hours per day, or if apprentices, twelve hours. They must be allowed a rest
of half an hour in the morning and another of one hour in the latter period
of the day.
3. No exceptions in respect of particular industries are permitted as
regards hours of work.
4. In factories devoted to the industries declared unhealthy or dangerous
by an Order of the Minister of Commerce, young persons may not be
employed except to the extent and under the conditions prescribed by the
said Minister. &
5. No special protection is given by law to boys aged 16 to 18 years.
V. — Regulations concerning Female Labour.
There is no restriction by law on the employment of women and girls
aged above 16 years:— &
1 (a) and 1 (b). At night.
2 and 3. As regards hours of work.
4. In unhealthy or dangerous occupations.
HUNGARY.
Education.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over 16.
Night work.
Hours of
work.
5. After childbirth.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Employment
after child-
birth.
28 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
‘ITALY.
Age of
children.
Fmployment
of women.
Age.
£ducation.
Night and
ASunday em-
ployment.
Hours of
work.
Jnhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
ITALY.
*-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º:
MEMORANDUM concERNING THE WORK OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN MINEs,
FACTORIES, &c. IN ITALY.
The regulations are embodied in Law No. 242 of June 19, 1902,
and in the Regolamento for the execution of the provisions of that law,
approved by Royal Decree, January 29, 1903, No. 41.
The provisions of Italian law bearing on the recommendations of the
IBerlin Conference are as follows:– -
I.—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
1.— (a) The inferior limit of age for children is now 13 years complete, Law No.242
but from June 19, 1905, that limit will be raised to 14 years complete in of June 19,
all underground works in which mechanical traction does not exist. 1902.
1.—(b) Women are not allowed to work underground. Idem, Art. 1,
para. 3.
III.-Regulation of Child Labour.
1 and 2. The inferior limit of age in factories is fixed at 12 years Idem, Art. 1,
complete. para. 1.
3. The limit of age (12 years complete) is the same in all factories except Idem, Art. l,
in those occupations specified as dangerous or unhealthy, when limit of age is pura. 6.
15 complete for boys and 21 for girls.
4. By the Coppino law of July 15, 1877, obligatory elementary instruction Idem, Art.2,
is enforced; each child must be in possession of a certificate showing that it para. 3.
has passed through the first three elementary courses.
5. Boys under 15 years complete and girls under 21 complete may not Idem, Art. 5,
work at night. - para. 1.
They have one day’s rest of 24 hours in each week, though that day need Idem, Art. 9.
not be Sunday.
6. Children between 12 and 15 years complete work a maximum of
11 hours.
When the work is over six and less than eight hours a day, the period
(or periods) of rest must make up a total of one hour. -
When the work is over eight and less than 11 hours the period (or periods) .
..must make up a total of one and half hours.
When they work over 11 hours, the rests equal two hours.
In no case is the work of boys, or of girls under 21, to last more than six Idem, Art.8.
hours without a break.
7. Boys under 15 years complete and girls under 21 are absolutely
excluded from the unhealthy or dangerous occupations specified in Table A
of the regulations for the execution of Law No. 242, regulating the work of
women and children.
In those unhealthy or dangerous occupations mentioned in Table B of
the above regulations, work is allowed for boys under 15 years and girls under
21 years complete, only under specified protective conditions.
IV.-Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
1. Night work is prohibited for boys under 15 and girls under 21 years Law 242 of
complete respectively. E. June 19,
Are excepted such girls over 15 years complete who were already working 1902, Art. 5.
at the date of the promulgation of the law of June 19, 1902. But within
five years, i.e., by June 19, 1907, they shall cease from all night work.
Boys up to 15 years complete and women of all ages have one day’s rest Idem, Art.9.
of 24 hours in the week, not necessarily Sunday.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE,
29
Idem, Art. 7.
Law 242 of
June 19,
1902, Art. 5,
para. 2.
Idem, Art. 8.
Idem, Art. 7.
Royal Decree
of Jan. 29,
!903.
**
2. Boys and girls, from 12 to 15 years complete, work at a maximum
ll hours a day with rests of a duration of one and a half hours, and never
more than six hours without a break. Girls over 15 complete, work a
maximum of 12 hours a day. There is no regulation for boys over 15.
3. Exceptions are admitted in certain industries on temporary and
exceptional permission of Minister of Agriculture, after consultation with
Provincial Sanitary Council, in view of technical or economic necessities in
the case of boys and girls aged from 12 to 15 years complete ; maximum of
hours of work to be 12 hours.
4. There are no restrictions for boys over 15 years complete.
Boys under that age and girls under 21 are not allowed to work at all in
occupations specified in Table A of the regulations for carrying out provisions
of Law No. 242, and in those mentioned in Table B only under specified
protective conditions.
5. No protection is given to boys over the age of 15 years complete in
either (a), (b), (c), or (d).
V.—Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1.—(a) Girls under 21 do not work at night except such girls as were
already working, being then aged over 15 years complete, when the law of
June 19, 1902, came into force.
1.—(b) From June 19, 1907, no girl or woman of any age shall work at
night.
2. The maximum of actual work for girls over 15 years complete and
women of all ages is 12 hours, with rests of total duration of two hours.
If they work ll hours the rest or rests amount to one and a half hours at
least. .
3. Maximum for girls and women of all ages is 12 hours a day.
4. Girls under 21 are absolutely forbidden to work in certain specified
unhealthy or dangerous occupations; restrictions are imposed on their
working in certain other occupations except under specified protective
conditions. (See Tables A and B.)
5. Women are not admitted to work for four weeks after their confine-
ment. This period may, however, be exceptionally reduced to three weeks,
but never to less, on presentation of a certificate as to their state of health
from the Sanitary Officer of the Commune. -
TABLE A.
Unhealthy or dangerous industries in which women under age and boys under 15 are
absolutely forbidden to work :——
REGoLAMENTO OF JAN. 29, 1903.
Grinding and refining of sulphur.
Manufactories of gunpowder, dynamite, and other explosives.
. Manufactories of sulphuric acid and nitric acid.
. Manufactories of sulphide of carbon.
. Manufactories of phosphorus, of chlorine, of chloride, and hyper-chloride of lime.
. Manufactories of chromates.
. Manufactories of oxide of lead, of white lead, and of antimonial preparations.
. Manufactories of salts of soda by the sulphuric acid process.
. Manufactories of ammonia, potash, and their respective salts.
. Manufactories of ferro-cyanide of potassium, or yellow prussiate.
. Manufactories of aniline and muresside.
. Manufactories of colours with arsenical basis and arsenical preparations.
. Manufactories of collodion and celluloid.
. Manufactories of sulphuric and acetic ethers.
. Industry of refining precious metals.
. Industry of gilding and silvering.
. Industry of mirrors with silver amalgam.
. Industry of distilling and refining petroleum.
. Industry of manufacturing metallic lead and type-foundries.
. Industry of manufacturing zinc and zinc-white.
. Industry of extracting oil from olive-husks, and other fat oils by means of sulphide of
carbon.
. Industry of treating animal remains for the production of various azotic substances.
.
ITALY.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over 16.
Night worh.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupation/ts.
Employment
after child-
birth.
D 3
30 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
ITALY. REGoLAMENTo or JAN. 29, 1903. TABLE B.
Unhealthy or dangerous occupations in which women under age and boys under 15 are
forbidden to work or may only work under special protective conditions:—
1. Mines.—In the digging and extraction of ore. Placing of scaffoldings. Handling of
extracting machine, jack-screws, winches, &c. Handling of pumps and ventilators in
underground works. , Carrying on the head or shoulders in subterranean galleries between
the places of excavation and the shafts. g w
2. Quarries and Peat Moors.—In the above-mentioned works and in the dragging of
the blocks. ,
3. Workshops for the mechanical preparation of Minerals and Products from Mines and
Quarries.—In the pulverization, dry sifting, and in the manipulation of dust.
4. Metallurgic and Mineralogical Workshops.-In the treatment by fire of the following
ores: argentiferous lead, zinc, arsenic, antimony, and quicksilver. In the feeding and
clearance of Sulphur combustion furnaces for the liquefaction of sulphurous ore. In the
torrefaction in moulds, in heaps, &c. of sulphides, arseniuret, and antimoniuret generally,
and especially of arsenical copper metallines. - º
5. Plants for the production, transformation, and distribution of Electricity.—In the
handling, cleaning, and preservation of distribution panes; in the preservation of storage
batteries, and generally in all works connected with current insertors and disjunctors and
with current apparatuses and lines. . In electro-chemical establishments the employment of
women and children as above is specially prohibited : (a) in connection with wet electrolysis :
in all works referring to the formation of storage batteries; (b) in connection with dry
electrolysis : in the pulverization, and dry sifting, and in the manipulation of dust, in the
handling, feeding, and clearing of electric furnaces. - - -
6. Match Manufactories.—In the premises where the paste is prepared and the matches
are dipped and dried. In the other places women and children will be admitted, after
passing a medical examination, in order to ascertain that they do not suffer from decayed
teeth.
7. Pyrotechnical Manufactories.--In the manipulation of explosive powders.
8. Tar Distilleries for the eatraction of Benzine, Paraffin, Mineral Oils, &c.—In the
premises where distillation is carried out. sº
9. Tobacco Manufactories.—In the opening of the bales; in the picking of the leaves
not previously damped; in the fermentation and in the demolition of the fermentation
heaps; in the drying process carried out in close places; in the grinding and sifting ; in the
production of extracts. -
10. Sulphate of Quinine Factories.—In the premises where the chinchona bark is pul-
verized and sulphate of quinine is purified. -
11. Glass, Crystal, Enamel, Plate Glass, Mousseline Glass, and Jet Manufactories.—In
the premises where the raw material is pulverized; in those where the mousseline glass
undergoes the blowing process; in glass blowing ; in the cleaning and demolition of the
furnaces. -
12. Caoutchouc, Gutta-percha, and Ebonite Factories.—In the premises where the
vulcanization by means of sulphide of carbon is effected, and where the solutions of
caoutchouc in essential oils are prepared, and where such solutions are applied to stuffs in
order to render them impermeable.
13. Hide Tanneries.—In the premises where the tanning materials are ground; in the
works connected with the lime treatment; in the tanning pits; and where dust is freely
discharged.
14. Artificial Manures Factories.—In the premises where powders for grinding, as well
as vapours and noxious gas for chemical reactions are freely developed.
15. Glue Manufactories.—In the handling and selecting of bones.
16. Paper Manufactories and Rag Picking.—In the selection and trituration of rags
and used paper, and in the dyeing of paper with poisonous solutions.
17. Printing Establishments...—In the cleaning of the types.
18. Lime, Chalk, Cement Pozzolana, and Amianthus Mills.-In premises where powders
are freely developed, unless their diffusion is effectually precluded.
19. Thrashing, carding, and cleaning of Wool, Cotton, Flaa, Hemp, Jute, Horse Hair,
and Feathers.—In premises where powders are freely developed, unless their diffusion
is effectually precluded. . -
20. Ceramic Manufactories.—In the premises for the preparation and grinding of
varnishes (coarse enamel),
21. Dye Houses.—In the premises where colours and poisonous baths are prepared.
22. Harbour Works.-In stowage operations, or in any other work connected with the
holds of sailing vessels and steamers; in the loading and unloading of coal and heavy
packages from wharves or lighters on vessels and vice versä, except in the handling of empty
baskets or in the filling of same ; in the painting of keels and of the interior of ships.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE.
Law of Dec.
6, 1876,
Art. 3.
Idem.
Ydem, Art. 1.
Law of Aug.
23, 1877,
Art. 2.
Law of Dec.
6, 1876,
Art. 2.
Law of Aug.
23, 1877,
Art. 1.
Decree of
Aug. 23,
1877, Arts. 4
to 11.
Law of Dec.
6, 1876,
Art. 2.
LUXEMIBOURG.
DESPATCH FROM His MAJESTY's MINISTER AT THE HAGUE.
My LoRD, - The Hague, August 29, 1905.
IN compliance with the request contained in your Lordship's circular
despatches of this series of the 28th of April, I have the honour to transmit
herewith a memorandum showing the extent to which the recommendations
of the Berlin Labour Conference of 1890 have been carried out in
Luxembourg.
I have, &c.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G., (Sigued) HENRY HowARD.
&c., &c.
&c.,
Enclosure in above Despatch.
RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED IN LUXEMBOURG.
I.—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
1.—(a) Children under 16 years of age may not be employed underground
in mines.
1.—(b) No girls or women may be employed underground in mines.
III.-Regulation of Child Labour.
1, 2, and 3. Children under 12 may not work in factories or workshops,
or otherwise outside of their family and under the orders of an employer.
4. Children under 14 years of age may not work more than six hours
per day unless they have been granted certificates that they have acquired an
elementary primary education. t * - :
5. Children under 16 years of age may not be employed at night, i.e.,
from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
There is no law requiring Sunday to be observed as a day of rest.
6. Children under 14 may not work more than eight hours per day. In
special circumstances authority may be granted for an increase of the working
hours by two. º -
Periods of rest of at least half an hour each must be allowed in the
morning and evening, and of one hour at noon. During these intervais of
rest the children must be permitted to take exercise in the open air.
The Government is authorised to fix specially the hours of work of
children.
7. The employment of children under 16 years of age in unhealthy or
dangerous occupations is in some cases prohibited and in others subject to
regulation.
IV.- Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
1. Young persons under 16 years of age may not be employed at night,
i.e., from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m,
There is no law in force restricting the employment of workpeople on
Sunday.
2 and 3. Young persons between 14 and 16 years of age may not work
more than 10 hours per day. In special circumstances, however, authority
may be given for the hours of work to be increased to 12.
LUXEM-
BOURG.
Age of
children.
Employment
of women.
Age.
Education.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Decree of
Aug. 23,
1877, Art. 1.
Rests of at least half an hour each must be allowed in the morning and
evening, and of at least one hour at mid-day.
Hours of
work.
D 4.
32 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
LUxeM-
130URG.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over 16.
Night work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy Tº
or dangerous
occupations.
Employment
after child-
birth.
Employment
of women.
Age.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Boys over 16.
Night work.
Hours of
work.
The young persons must be
open air.
In certain industries the maximum number of hours for the employment
of young persons between 14 and 16 years of age has been fixed at 11.
permitted to take their periods of rest in the
4. The employment of young persons under 16 years of age in unhealthy
or dangerous occupations is in some cases prohibited and in others subject
to regulation.
5. The employment in mines of young men between 16 and 18 years
is limited to certain descriptions of labour. There is no other special
protection.
V.—Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1.—(a) T
1.—(b)
2 and 3. The recommendations on these points concerning women
} and girls over 16 have not been adopted, and there are no
4. legal provisions concerning them.
5. J
PORTUGAL.
DESPATCH FROM HIS MAJESTY's AMBASSADOR AT LISBON.
My LORD, Lisbon, August 20, 1905.
WITH reference to your Lordship's circular of the 28th of April,
received the 9th of August, I have the honour to report that a Portuguese
decree of the 14th April 1891, and the Regulations issued for its application
and sanctioned by decree of March 10th, 1893, between them embody most
of the resolutions of the Berlin Labour Conference with regard to the labour
of minors and females, with, however, the following differences:—
I.—Regulations concerning Work im Mimes.
1.—(b) There is no prohibition of the employment of women underground
provided they are over 21.
III.--Regulation of Child Labour.
2. The limit is 10 years.
5. The limit is 12 instead of 14 years.
IV.-Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
1. No males under 16 or females under 21 may work on Sundays.
No males under 12 or females under 21 may work at night.
5. The law does not apply to males over 16, who are not deemed to be
minors for this purpose. . -
V.-Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1.—(b) There is no prohibition of the employment of women at night
provided they are over 21.
2. Nor any restriction of their hours of labour if over 21.
I have, &c.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G., (Signed) M. DE BUNSEN.
&c., &c., &c.
Decree of
May 30,
1883.
Decree of
Aug. 23,
1877, Arts. 4
to ll. -
Law of April
30, 1890, and
Decree of
Jan. 1, 1891.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 33
SWEDEN AND NORWAY.
DESPATCH FROM HIS MAJESTY's MINISTER AT STOCKHOLM.
My LoRD, Stockholm, June 21, 1905.
IN obedience to the instructions contained in your Lordship's circular
of this series, of the 28th of April last, I have the honour to transmit copy
of a report prepared by Mr. Goodhart, Third Secretary to His Majesty's
Legation in this capital, showing the extent to which the recommendations
embodied in certain resolutions of the Berlin Labour Conference of 1890
have been carried out in Sweden and Norway.
I have, &c.
- (Signed) A. C. GRANT DUFF.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G.,
&c., &c., &c.
Enclosure in above Despatch.
MEMORANDUM.
SWEDEN. -
I.—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
Resolution No. 1(a) has been adopted and is law.
No. 1(b) is law.
III–Regulation of Child Labour.
Resolutions Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 are law.
No. 4. A minor” above 12 years of age may be employed during holiday
time, although he has not finished school.
No. 6. Children under 13 may at most work six hours a day, and other
minors above 13, ten hours.
For lighter work, children who have completed 12 years may work ten
hours. A doctor's certificate is required showing that their health would not
be endangered.
No. 7. There are certain injurious occupations, such as the making of
matches, in which children may not be employed,
Children may not be left in charge of machinery in motion.
I V-Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
Resolution No. 1. Boys above 14 may on occasion work at night, but
not girls. Work for minors (i.e., under 18) is prohibited between the hours
of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. - -
No. 2. No minors may work more than ten hours a day ; work must be
broken by “suitable rests,” but the law does not lay down how long or how
many the rests in question should be.
No. 5. There is no special legislation concerning young men from 16 to
18 years. They come within the provisions concerning minors above 14.
Sweden.
º
Age of
children.
Employment
of women.
Age, and
night and
Sunday
work.
Education.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night work.
Hours of .
work.
* NotE.-‘Minor” indicates a person under 18 years of age.
291. E
Boys over 16.
34 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
SWEDEN.
Night work.
Employment
after child-
birth.
Age.
Education.
Night work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over 16.
V.—Regulations concerning Female Labour.
Resolution Nos. 1(a)(b). Girls under 18 may not work at night, over 18
no provisions. No. 5 is law.
NoFWAY.
I—Regulations concerning Work in Mines.
Resolutions Nos. 1(a) and (b), are law.
III-Regulation of Child Labour.
1 and 2. Children under 14 may not be employed for work in factories.
3. Children between 12 and 14 may be employed for lighter work for
six hours daily with the permission of the inspectors. They must have a
doctor's certificate that the work will not endanger their health or impede
their bodily development.
During summer (no schools) children between 12 and 18 may be employed
for nine hours, on a doctor's certificate.
The King is free to order special arrangements, both as regards pre-
cautions, duration of time of labour, and employment of children and young
people. -
4 and 5. Children under 18 may not be employed before 6 a.m. or after
8 p.m. Those who have not left public school may not be employed for work
under the law (of June 27, 1892) during school time, nor during the hour
immediately preceding School time.
6. Minors between 14 and 16 may be employed for not more than ten
hours daily for lighter work. Minors under 18 shall have half an hour's
recess four and a half hours after the beginning of work, one hour free for
dinner when work lasts more than eight hours.
7. Children may not be employed for cleaning and oiling machinery in
motion.
IV.--Regulations concerning the Labour of the Young.
Resolution No. 1 is law.
2. See answer to III. No. 6 above.
Recesses may vary according to to the necessities of the work for persons
above 12. - .
No. 3 is law.
4. No women, children, or males under 18 may be employed for cleaning
and oiling machinery in motion.
5.—(a) Persons between 16 and 18 may be employed for a maximum of
ten hours. -
(b) No night work under 18.
(c) No Sunday work.
(d) See No. 4 above.
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR, CONFERENCE. 35
V.— Regulations concerning Female Labour.
1.—(a) Girls under 18 may not work at night.
(b) No provisions.
2. No regulations.
3 is law.
5. Women shall not work within six weeks after delivery from child-
birth. This period may in special cases be reduced to four weeks, on a
doctor’s certificate.
SWITZEELAND.
DESPATCH FROM HIS MAJESTY's MINISTER AT BERNE.
My LORD, Berne, May 11, 1905.
WITH reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of this series, of
the 28th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit, herewith, a Memorandum by
Lord Acton, showing the extent to which the recommendation of the Berlin
Conference in regard to work in mines and the labour of the young have
been carried into execution, or had previously existed in Switzerland.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CoNYNGHAM GREENE.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G.,
&c., &c., &c.
Enclosure in above Despatch.
MEMORANDUM WITH REGARD TO THE CARRYING OUT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONs of
THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE IN SWITZERLAND.
I.—Recommendations of Berlin Conference for Regulation of Work in Mines.”
According to the most recent figures, dating from the years 1900 and
1901, and published in the Report of the Federal Inspectors of Factories
and Mines (Aarau, 1903), the number of work men and women employed in
all the mines and stone quarries of Switzerland totaled 1,641, of whom 424
were miners and 1,217 quarrymen. Owing to these relatively small numbers,
the Federal authorities have hitherto seen no necessity for enacting special
laws for the protection of miners. Moreover, the enactment of such laws
would presumably involve a modification of Article 34 of the Federal
Constitution, as that article as at present framed grants authority to the
Confederation to legislate for the protection of labour in factories only. The
protection of miners is thus, for the present, a matter for Cantonal legislation,
but none of the Cantonal mining regulations contain stipulations in regard to
women and children. The question whether mines should be held to be
included in the scope of the Federal Factory Law of 1877 was decided in the
negative by a Circular of the Ministry of Commerce of June 1878. On the
other hand, mines are placed under the operation of the Federal Employers'
Liability Act of 1887, in its extended form, and a special inspectorship of
mines was created for the purpose of carrying the provisions of the said Act
into execution as regards mines, pits, and quarries. -
II—Factories, &c.
Swiss legislation on the subject of the employment of children in factories,
subsequent to 1890, consists of the Federal decree of December 13, 1897, which
determines those forms of labour from which children of 15 to 16 years are
to be excluded, in execution of Article 16 of the Factory Act.
A précis of the decree is annexed.
* I.—l (a) The 14 years’ limit in force in Switzerland applies to factories only. (Vide
Blue Book, Commercial, No. 16 (1890), p. 192.)
E 2
NORWAY.”
Night work.
Hours of
work.
Employment
after child-
birth.
Work in
7?????68.
Chºld
labour.
36 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Switzer-
LAND.
Labour of
the young.
Further, by Article 7 of the executory decree to the Federal law on
the Manufacture and Sale of Matches, the employment of children up to
16 years complete in match factories is prohibited, except in the case of
children over 14 years old who are only employed in the manufacture of
match boxes. The admittance of the latter to the other departments of the
match factory is, however, strictly prohibited. *
Children who are not employed in match factories are furthermore
forbidden to enter the premises, unless they are accompanied by persons who
have authority, to visit the works.
SUBSTANCE OF FEDERAL DECREE OF DECEMBER 13, 1897.
List of branches of industry in which the employment of children between
14 years completed and 16 years completed is prohibited :-
Boilers:– Combustible substances :-
Under steam pressure. Asphait.
Motors :-- Tar.
Water wheels. Mortar.
Turbines. Warnish.
Steam engines. Wax.
Gas. Cement :—
Benzine. - Chalk.
Petroleum motors. Plaster. -
Dynamos :— Rag Sorfing.—All workin chemical
Electric plant. laboratories in which poisonous
Apparatus with strong currents. substances are employed or
Cranes :- developed, which are injurious
Lifts. either of themselves or by
Centrifugal machine. reason of their concentration.
Elaplosives : — Tin plating.
Gas mixtures. - | Zinc plating.
III. and IV.-Protection of Youths of both Seates.
The only legislative Act framed by the Confederation in this domain
since 1890, in so far as factories are concerned, is the decree of the Federal
Council of December 13, 1897, enumerating those employments to which
youths between 13 years complete and 16 years complete are not to be
admitted (see previous section).
As regards industrial establishments other than factories, to which, as
already stated, Federal legislation does not apply, relevant provisions are to
be found in the Cantonal laws for the protection of women's labour and the
Cantonal laws respecting apprentices. No doubt neither of these branches
of Cantonal legislation can be properly regarded as dealing exhaustively
with the question of the protection of youthful labour, since the first only
apply to persons of the female sex, while the second refer only to youthful
persons who are employed as apprentices, whether male or female—not to
ordinary hands. + -
The Cantonal provisions relative to the employment of girls (jeunes
ouvreires) may be summarized as follows:—The age of admission is fixed
at 15 in all Cantons which have enacted relevant laws, e.g., Bâle, Glarus,
St. Gall, Zürich, Lucerne, Soleure, Neuchâtel, and Aargau. In Geneva and
Neuchâtel, however, the employment of girls of 13 is permitted, provided
they have completed their attendance at the day school. The law of
Bāle-ville alone contains no stipulations in regard to the age of admission,
while in Aargau the date of admission depends not on the age of the
applicant but upon whether attendance at school has been completed.
With regard to the hours of work for girls, these are treated, by the
Cantonal Legislature, as by the Confederation, in the same manner as adult
women. In all the Cantons aforesaid the working day for both girls and
women is of 11 hours; in Zürich, 10 hours. In two Cantons only does the
OF THE BERLIN LABOUR CONFERENCE. 37
law present slight variations to the advantage of girl workers; in St. Gall it
is prohibited to employ girls under 16 years of age at treading machines for
longer than three hours consecutively, and in Neuchâtel the employment of
giris under 15 for longer than ten hours daily is prohibited. The hours of
work above enumerated include, in all the Cantons mentioned, the time
allowed for obligatory instruction, and the law of the Canton of Lucerne
explicitly states that no deduction of wage shall be made on this score.
The following is a summary of the regulations in force in the Cantons
relative to the hours of work for apprentices. In Neuchâtel the working
day for apprentices of both sexes between 13 and 15 years of age is fixed
at ten hours, for those of more than 15 years, 11 hours; in Fribourg the
working day is of 11 hours, irrespective of the question of age or sex. The
same rule is in force in the Canton of Berne, in virtue of the new law for
apprentices, of November 23, 1904. In the Cantons of Vaud and Geneva
the law prescribes ten hours; finally, in Obwalden, the law imposes no time
limitation, but confines itself to enjoining upon the taskmaster (foreman) the
necessity for keeping the apprentices to regular work, while refraining from
over-tiring them. -
By each of the laws above referred to, night work and work on Sunday
are forbidden in the case of youthful labour.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the recommendations of the
resolutions embodied in Section IV., 1 to 5, of the Final Protocol of the
Berlin Conference had either already existed in Switzerland or were
subsequently carried into effect in the following measures respectively.
1. In force in factories and kindred establishments subject to Federal
legislation; in force in the Cantons as regards employment of girls, and as
regards young apprentices of both sexes.
2. In force in factories and kindred establishments, with the exception of
the interval of one hour and a half's rest; in force in the Canton of Zürich
as regards the employment of girls, and in the Cantons of Vaud and Geneva
as regards apprentices of both sexes.
3. No exceptions to the detriment of youthful working men for particular
industries.
4. In force for youths of both sexes in factories and kindred establish-
ments; for girls in the Cantons of St. Gall, Lucerne, and Neuchâtel; and for
apprentices of both sexes in those Cantons which have passed laws relative
to apprentices.
5. In force in the sense of a prohibition of night and Sunday labour, of a
maximum working day of 11 hours, and of a prohibition of employment
in specially unhealthy or dangerous industries in all factories and kindred
establishments; in force as regards male apprentices in all Cantons which
possess laws regulating the status of apprentices.
V.—Regulations concerning Female Labour.
The Federal legislation of Switzerland relative to the observance of
Sunday and the labour of women and children in factories has undergone no
material alterations since the International Labour Conference held at Berlin
in 1890. The requirements imposed by the Conference in the two domains
aforesaid had already been realised in Switzerland by the Federal law of
March 23, 1877, respecting labour in factories. (See Blue Book, Commercial,
No. 16 (1890), pp. 187, 192, and 194.)
Of the five postulates of the Berlin Conference relative to the labour of
Women, the first (prohibition of night labour) is observed in Article 15,
section 13 of the said Factory Act, the prohibition extending to all women
irrespective of age ; the second (maximum day of 11 hours) is carried out in
Article 11, section 1. Of the exceptions provided for in the third postulate,
the Swiss law only admits temporary prolongations of day labour (Article 11,
section 4). Prolongation of night labour for women is not permitted. The
SwitzER-
LAND.
*º-smº-
Night and
Sunday
work.
Hours of
work.
Unhealthy
or dangerous
occupations.
Boys over 16.
Female
tabour.
F. 3
38 RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Switzer- resolution expressed under the fourth head, relative to dangerous occupations,
LAND. is partially complied with in Article 15, section 3, of the Factory Act of
º-º-º-º: 1877, and a list of the branches of industry in which the employment of
pregnant women is prohibited is contained in the decree of the Federal
Council of December 13th, 1897, of which a précis is annexed. The fifth
postulate relative to the re-employment of women recently confined is
observed in Article 15, section 2, of the Factory Act.
The following is a list of the forms of employment in factories which are
prohibited for women in pregnancy :—
(a) Working in atmospheres in which there are evaporations of yellow .
phosphorus; in match factories-—the work of dipping, picking out,
and packing matches. -
(b) Working at lead, and at mixtures containing lead; manufacture of
lead-colours, type-founding, type-setting, glazing and unfritted
lead-glaze, laying on of enamel containing lead, `
(c) Working at quicksilver air-pumps in incandescent lamp factories.
(d) Work in rooms where sulphurous acids develop; yarn-bleaching and
straw-bleaching. -
(e) Washing in benzine.
(f) Manufacture of rubber articles; work which involves exhalations of
carbonate of sulphur or chlorate of sulphur.
(g) Work involving the lifting of heavy weights or violent agitation of
the body.
TABLE OF CANTONAL LEGISLATION PROHIBITING NIGHT WoRK FOR WOMEN.
1. Application of prohibition to all women irrespective of age.
Minimum. Number of Hands employed.
Zürich - -D ~
*. All establishments to which the Factory In all º * IlS
sº Law of 1877 does not apply, irre- .ders € º
Argovie tº spective of persons employed. i ni ght hours the
Neuchâtel - J timefrom 8 p.m.
St. Gall - U Two, or one, if the person employed be to 6 a.m.
Bâle-ville - ſ a female under 18 years of age. S-
2. Application of prohibition extends only to women apprentices in
establishments not subject to Factory Law. .
Legal Night Hours.
Berne—8 p.m. to 5 a.m. 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Fribourg.—9 p.m. to 5 a.m. -
Vaud.—8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Valais.-8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Neuchâtel.—8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Geneva.—8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
NoTE.—In the Canton of Geneva the prohibition applies likewise to
women who are not employed as apprentices.
RETURN RELATING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BERLIN LABOUR ConFERENCE.
39
SUMMARY OF THE REPORTS SHOWING How FAR THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED INTO EFFECT.
-ā-
Becommendººrin Labour ºf; Austria. Belgium. Denmark. France. Germany. Holland. Hungary. . Italy. Luxembourg. Portugal. Sweden. Norway. Switzerland. No.
I. REGUI, ATIONS $ºnsise WORK IN : 4 I.
1.--(a) Minimum age for employment of : Not adopted. Adopted.* Not adopted. |Y ſ Not adopted. . ...Not adopted. |} ſº ſ, Adopted as º - |-o.
children underground to º: to 14 years— Minimum age, 13. Minimum age, 12. | Minimum age, 13. Minimum age, 13. | | | | regards ". | Adopted - i
In southern countries it may be 32 years. | - : T * ground work- opted. : : t
+ -- }. ad:d } aiºn 3 ings without | }. Minimum f Adopted. à {} ſ } :
- łoś." * | | p | | : iºni cal | age, 16.” j | Ad ted. 3 | Adopted. : } -
. . . + €il - traction. opted. 3 opte Not adopted.
1–(b) Prohibition of employment of women Adopted.* Adopted.” Adopted as re- Adopted. | Adopted. J U J U; Adopted. J . Prohibition }. l i p 1.—(b).
underground. t : gards females under - i limited to wo. | |
- : 21.” J men under 21. J UJ
- !
III. REGULATION OF CHILD LABOUR. - III.
1. Children under minimum age to be ſh ſ - ſil ſin T - Y Adopted.* in rº r Adopted. ſ}^ rº) 1.
excluded from work in factories. | | Adopted, but
minimum age
Adopted. Mini- - I fixed at 13, - |
2. Minimum age to be fixed at 12 years—in ; Adopted. 3.}}n...i." |f Adopted." |} Adopted. -: } except in cer-3 ; } Adopted.* { { ...A dopted. , Minimum age, 10}}. Adopted. 3 2.
southern countries it may be 10 years. . - * tain gases, : Humum age, |...}Adopted.
| J } Adopted. - º it may | 10. >The #nimum. > Adopted.* * |
l 2. ge, 12.
3. Minimum limit of age to apply to every J C U.J UJ | l J Adopted.* ag Adopted. C 3.
factory without exception. : | | -
- * * . :: r * * * | } Adopted.
4. Children must satisfy provisions concern” Adopted.* Adopted. No provisions in Adopted. J U Adopted. Adopted. Adopted.* |j • J C Adopted. Adopted. * 4.
ing primary education before being employed. Belgium law. con-
| Cè primary
! education. - | !
5. Children under 14 not to work at might Adopted.” Adopted, except Adopted, except Adopted with Adopted, except : Adopted. A dopted Adopted as . Adopted, ex- .Adopted as Adopted. Adopted. 5.
nor on Sundays. as to certain neces- as to certain indus: some exteriSions. that weekly rest with modifi- regards night cept that weekly regards might
sary Sunday labour. tries which cannot need not be Sunday. cations.” Work.” rest need not be work.”
suffer interruption.* * - on Sunday. :
6. Actual working hours for children under Not adopted. Not adopted. Adopted, , , but Adopted; and, # Not adopted. Not adopted. | Not adopted. Working Not adopted. Not adopted. ſ: Not adopted. J U. 6.
14 not to exceed 6, broken by a rest of half an period of rest must hours' work must be - hours 8: of Children be- | | :
hour or more. - be not less than fºllowed by at least apprentices 10. tween 12 and 15 !. |
: # hour. - # hour rest. Rests of + hour | may work 11 | }. Adopted 3 i
- - and 1 hour.” hours with rests i pted. :
- ; equal to 2 hours. ; - | -
i - ; : :
7. Children to be excluded from unhealthy or Adopted.* Adopted.” Adopted. Adopted. Adopted. Adopted. Adopted.* Adopted.” Adopted. Adopted.* J U. Adopted. | Adopted §§ 7.
dangerous occupations, or admitted only under regards oiling |
protective conditions. i - and cleaning
: machinery in
i motion.
IV. REGULATIONs CoscERNING THE LABOUB : IV.
of THE YOUNG. - º
1. Persons aged 14 to 16 not to work at night Adopted.” Adopted. Adopted.* Adopted. Adopted, except Adopted. Adopted.* Adopted as Not adopted. Adopted as Adopted as Adopted (with Adopted. I-
nor on Sundays. - i that weekly rest regards night regards might regards night modifications)
| - need not be Sunday. work.” i work.” work. as regards night -
- - * i | Work. 3
I | - - - }
2. Actual working hours of such persons not Not adopted. Not adopted. . Not adopted. 10 hours is the Not adopted. Adopted. i Not adopted. Adopted, but | For those un- \ in ſ Adopted, but Adopted. 2.
to exceed 10 hours, broken by rests amounting : maximum. . i apprentices der15 inaximum | i | duration of rests :
to at least 13 hours. - : hours’ work to may work 12 is 13 hours with not fixed.
t : be followed by at hours.” ! rest of 13 hours. ; } Adopted.” i ſ: ; : The law as
- i least #-hour's rest. . i | H i . Tegar
- * * := Adopted :- - | }. Adopted. employment
3. Exceptions to be admitted for certain Adopted.* Adopted. Adopted. Adopted. dopted. Adopted. Adopted.* Adopted. Adopted. J Adopted. $ in factories 3.
* - | -- Not adopted. } actor
industries. - # Wºrles IIl
- . - - | | | different
4. Employment in unhealthy and dangerous Adopted.* Adopted.* Adopted. Adopted. Adopted. Adopted. Adopted.” Adopted.* Not adopted. Adopted.* {_ tj U Adopted as re- cantonS. 4.
occupations to be subject to restrictions. i - i gards oiling, and
+ * - ºachinery
f - - - - ld III OTIOIl. :
5. Young men aged 16 to 18 to be protected Adopted.* Adopted as regards Not adopted. Adopted. Adopted, except Adopted. Adopted in Not adopted. . Not adopted. Not adopted. Not adopted. Adopted as Adopted. | 5.
as regards— - - (a) and (c).” ; º part as º (a) and
(a) Maximum day’s labour. E y. (d). (b). -
(b) Night work. -
(c) Sunday work.
(d) Employment in... dangerous or un-
healthy occupations.
W. REGULATIONs concKRNING FEMALE W.
- LABOUR. - * - .
1.—(a) Females from 16 to 21 not to work Adopted.* l - Adopted. Adopted. Adopted. Adopted. Adopted.* h ºn Adopted, ex-h * Adopted. Adopted as i Adopted . as 1.-(a)
at night. - cept as regards regards girls regards girls
f Adopted. j; at: }; under 18. under 18.
- - efore ll Die --
1.—(b) Women over 21 not to work at night. Adopted.* J l Not adopted. Not adopted. Adopted. Adopted. Adopted.* 1902. Not adopted. Not adopted. Not adopted. 1.—(b).
2. Actual working hours of females not to Adopted.* Y ſ Not adopted. T ſi . Working ... hours Not adopted. Adopted.” n Adopted as ſ 2.
exceed 11 hours, broken by rests amounting | | | | limited to 10, with ; r regards women
to 13 hours at least. - rests amounting to - | under 21.
- } Adopted.* } Not adopted. i one hour. f Not adopted. f d Not adopted I
- - +- + - Not . . Not t Not adopted. INot adopted. 3.
mi.ºptions may be allowed for certain Adopted.* | Adopted. | U Adopted Adopted. Adopted.” adopted. |} * adopted. i Adopted. !- |
4. Employment in unhealthy or dangerous Adopted.* Adopted. Adopted. Adopted 3S Fê- Adopted. Adopted. Adopted.* Atlopted as D º f| Adopted as re- 4.
occupations to be subject to restrictions. gards females under regards girls gards oiling and
- 18. under 21. i. machinery
. . . . HIl T105.1011. - *
5. Women not to be admitted to work for Adopted. Adopted.* Adopted.” Women are al- Legislation in pro- Adopted. Adopted.* Adopted. Pe- | }. Adopted. Adopied. 3 | . Adopted. Period *}.
four weeks after child-birth. i Howed to return to greSS. - - riod may be re- : º is 6 weeks, but
- work 4 weeks after duced to 3 weeks ; * | may be reduced :
child-birth, with a | on medical cer- ! ! to 4 on medical -
medical certificate. ! ...” U tificate. * º J U. certificate. U
\ * Adopted before the date of the Conference.
291.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
LABOUR.
RETURN showing the TERMs of the following
RESOLUTIONS embodied in the FINAL Pro-
TOCOL of the INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE on
LABOUR in FACTORIES and MINES, held at
Berlin in 1890, namely, Section I., l (a), 1 (b),
Section III., 1 to 7, Section IV., 1 to 5,
Section W., 1 to 5; and the degree to which
the RECOMMENDATIONs in each of the said
RESOLUTIONs are now carried out in each
of the Countries represented at that
CoNFERENCE.
(Mr. Herbert Samuel.)
Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed,
3 August 1905.
[Price 53d.]
291.
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