What is Factory Acts?
The '''Factory Acts''' were laws passed by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] beginning in 1802 to improve the conditions of workers in [[Factory|factories]]. The first ones were to protect young children employed in [[cotton mill]]<nowiki/>s. The Act of 1844. was concerned to protect women. After 1819 children under 9 were not supposed to be employed. The later ones limited the millworkers to a ten-hour day. After the 1860s more industries were brought within the Factory Acts.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023|title=Early factory legislation|url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/livinglearning/19thcentury/overview/earlyfactorylegislation/|access-date=31 March 2023|website=UK Parliament}}</ref> There wasnt much enforcement until in 1833 a professional Factory Inspectorate was started. Before that it was down to local [[Magistrate|magistrates]]. The inspectors had the right to enter any cotton mill at work, and powers to introduce [[regulation]]<nowiki/>s. The inspectors are now part of the [[Health and Safety Executive]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Inspectors and the law|url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/managing/law.htm|access-date=2023-03-31|website=www.hse.gov.uk|archive-date=2023-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331214952/https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/managing/law.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:19th century Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Employment law]]