Working Conditions in Towns - 1894-1914

• Workers were not well paid though this varied depending on the level of skill and occupation.
• The number of women in the workforce increased considerably.

  • 1 in 5 workers were women in 1885.
  • 1 in 3 workers were women in 1914 although they earnt less than 50% of men on average.
• There was an economic depression from 1900 to 1908 and even after this wages didn't keep up with inflation.

  • Inflation was around 40% during this period.
• Legislation to Help Workers

  • 1885 - Women and children could not work at night.
  • 1886 - Enforcement of contracts overseen by factory boards.
  • 1892 - Women and children under 12 banned from working in mines.
  • 1897 - Working hours limited to 11.5 hours a day.
  • 1903 - More effective factory inspections.
  • 1912 - Sickness and accident insurances introduced for workers.
• However, the legislation was not enough to make the urban workers happy.

  • There were over 3,500 strikes in 1914.
  • From 1905 onwards, there were political activists trying to stir up the workers although most simply wanted better pay and conditions.