The Washington times., 1894-08-12
LAWS TOPROTECT LABORERS
Sweeping Code Under Which Swiss
Factory Operators Work.
FAIR DEALING FOR. EMPLOYEES
Rooms Must Be Well Lighted and Ventilated
Dangerous Machinery Fenced In
Women Cannot Toll at Night-Children
Under Fifteen Not Allowed in Factories.

Having in mind the frightful number of ac-
cidents to workmen in factories in the United
States, the men caught in belts in mills, and
burned by molten metal, the women injured
by flying spindles, the child laborers working
long hours, there is food for thought in a re-
port made to the State Department by Eugene
Germain. United States Consul at Zurich,
comprising the sweeping code of laws
adopted in 1887 under which the Swiss fac
tory operative works.
The code enters into the most minute de-
tails of factory life, and while its primary
purpose is to protect the health and welfare
OF the working people, it also insures fair
dealing for the employer of labor. The fol-
lowing are a few of the many interesting
provisions of the law:
Every industrial establishment employing
regularly a certain number OF persons outside
their homes and in closed apartments is re-
garded us q factory. The working-rooms.
machinery. and tools must be such as to insure
as much as possible the health and life of the
workers. Rooms must be well lighted and
ventilated. Such parts of machinery and
belts as are dangerous to life must be care
fully fenced in by solid railing, and all pre-
yentive measures must be applied which ex-
perience has proven practicable TO insure
laborers against ill-health and accidents.
Factories can be built or altered only after
the government has approved the plans. A
factory injurious to the health and life of its
workers and neighbors must suspend until
improved. Manufacturers must Immediately
report deaths or accidents. They are amen
able for any injury or death to workingman
caused by the neglect of his foreman, in
spector, or other employees under their con-
troll.
They are also responsible for any accident
resulting in bodily harm or death to any
workman even if caused by the negligence of
their employees, unless it can be proved that
the accident resulted from natural causes
over which he had no control. Should the
workman have caused the accident in part by
his carelessness then the presiding judge will
reduce the manufacturers liability accord
ingly.
The Federal Council designates industries
especially dangerous or breeders OF certain
diseases and fix liabilities.
Manufacturers must issue regulations, after
giving the workmen an opportunity to ex-
press their opinions which regulations must
be approved by the government. No fine to
exceed half days pay, but wage reductions
for poor or spoiled work are not fines. Good
moral, and decent bebaviors must be observed
in the factories. There must be a regular
pay day at least once in two weeks, and with
out special agreement fourteen-days' notice
must be given of discharge or intention to
quit work, except the workman has been
unlawfully treated or has infringed the regu-
lations. Workmen must be paid all of their
wages in lawful money. The working day
cannot exceed eleven hours, or ten hours on
Saturdays. and Sunday work is not permitted
save in extreme emergency. These hours
may be reduced by the government in indus
tries trying to health. One hour must be
allowed for dinner. and good dining-rooms
must be provided.
Women may not work at night or on Sun
day and have one and half hours at midday
for household work. They are not allowed
to work before or after confinement during a
period of eight weeks. They cannot be en-
ployed on dangerous machinery. Children
under fourteen years may not work in fac
tories. Between fifteen and seventeen they
cannot work over eleven hours day in all,
including the time occupied at school. church
and factory. nor must the school and church
time be limited by the factory work.