Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-08-23

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is optional. There are also conditions
stated where the hours of labor may be
prolonged above regular time. Night
work is forbidden for women, young
girls, and children.
There are special rules for coal min
ing, and other mining industries Wo-
men and children under twelve years
may not be employed at all, boys twelve
to sixteen years not more than fifty four
hours per week, or ten hours per day.
Night.work between p. m. and a.
n.y. is, for the above-named persons,
forbidden.
In France the regulations pertaining
to labor of women and children are
principally the outcome of the law of
May 10, 1874, BY that law the employ
ment of children under twelve years in
manufactures is prohibited. But later,
namely, March 81, 1875, and March /,
1877, exceptions were made in favor of
the textile, glass, and paper manufacto-
rles; but these laws expressly state that
every advantage must be allowed the
children to visit school, and said chill.
dren are not to be employed more than
ten hours daily. Between twelve and
fourteen years the law regulates the
working hours by education. Those of
that age with sufficient elementary edu-
cation may work twelve hours per day;
those without, SIX hours per day. For
all young people under sixteen years
of age and all girls under twenty one
years night and Sunday work is forbid
den.
In mines, quarries, etc, where there
is underground work, boys under
twelve years and girls and women of
any age are forbidden to work. Boys
between twelve and sixteen years may
only work underground eight hours
per day at light work with only an hours
rest.
In 1888 a new bill was passed in the
Chamber of Deputies and is now under
consideration in the Senate, which
changes the minimum age of children to
be employed from twelve to thirteen
years; it also places the maximum work
ing hours for all persons under eighteen
years at ten hours per day, for women
of all ages a maximum of eleven hours
per day, and to forbid night-work for
women entirely.
Switzerland passed law on March
%, 1877, relating exclusively to man
ufactories, which contains two clauses
concerning women and children. THIS
article NO. 15) prohibits entirely the
employment of women for night or sun
day labor, and, furthermore, prohibits
any such labor in the immediate vicinity
of operating motors or dangerous ma
chinery. During confinement women
must refrain from working altogether
eight weeks, including time before and
after, or to wait at least six weeks after
delivery before resuming work. Should
woman also have household to attend
to in connection with working in man
ufactory, she must leave the latter half
an hour before regular dinner time, in
case said dinner time is no longer than
one and one half hours. Children are
prohibited by article 16 from beginning
work until the completion of their four
teenth year. From fifteen to the end
of their sixteenth year they may be en-
ployed, but the time, including school
or religious instruction which they may
at the same time be taking, must not
exceed eleven hours daily. Education
should not take secondary place to
mandatory work. Night and Sunday
work for young people under eighteen
years is forbidden. For those industries
which are considered of paramount inn
pOrtance by the Bunuesrath exceptions
may be made to night-work by securing
special permission from the Bundesrath
for children between fourteen and
eighteen years when cause is shown that
said night-work is absolutely necessary
and men are also being employed. Espe-
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it is in the interest of said employees by
furthering their knowledge of the trade.
In this case, whereas the Bundesrath
allows said nght-work for the children,
it imposes that the entire working time
be no more than eleven hours, and that
the harder labor be shifted from one to
the other and all care taken and atten-
ton paid to the children for the pres
ervation of their health. The Bundesrath
has, furthermore, all authority to spa
city those industries in which children
may be employed or are prohibited.
In Belgium there is as yet virtually no
protection for women and children. A
bill was laid before the Chamber in 1887
to fix the minimum age for the employ
ment Of children in mines or manufac-
torres at twelve years and the maximum
labor hours for those between twelve
and eighteen years to be twelve honrs,
including one and one half hours rest,
women during monthly period not to
work at all.
In the Netherlands law was passed
on May 5, 1899, which not only intends
protecting laborers in manufactures and
trades, but those employed in hand work
and homework. This places working
hours for all women and girls, as well
as boys under sixteen years, at eleven
hours daily, only between 5a. m. and 7
p. M, with at least one hours rest;
- L. L