BERLIN LABOR CONFERENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2051, 27 May 1890, Page 4

BERLIN LABOR CONFERENCE.

The Committee on the regulation of female labor and of young persons in industrial trades passed the following resolutions :—“ It is desirable that children of both sexes under twelve years should be excluded from industrial work. For southern countries the limit is ten years.” “ That jno difference and no exceptions be admitted ; and that the children should, before beginning, have fulfilled Jail their educational obligations.” “ That children under fourteen should be excluded, from night and Sunday work ; that their effective work should not Ifist longer than six hours daily, with at least half an hour’s rest. That they should be excluded from all unhealthy or dangerous occupations.” The British delegate gave his approving vote, but with certain reservations. With certain restrictions the work of children between ton and twelve is to be admitted, as in England; though in practice, especially in textile industries, only children over twelve are to be employed. With regard'to the demand that children* before ,beipg employed in industrial work, shall have the necessarp education, Mr Scbtl was of opinion that this question belongs more to the Education Act than the Factory Act. Concerning the regulatiop of the work of young persons, it was agreed that workers of both, j sexes between the ages ;of fourteen and sixteen should not work either at night or oa Sunday, that their effective work should not last longer than ten hours a day, with at least one; hour .and a half of complete rest, that exceptions should be admitted. That .further restrictions might be enforced, particularly in unhealthy and dangerous occupations ; and that some protection should be granted to youths between 16 and 18 with regard to the<maximum working day, work at night, and .working ;in dangerous • industries. Concerning regulation of female labor, it was resolved that married or unmarried women over 16 years of age should hot work either at night or on Sunday, that their effective work should not exceed 11 hours a day, with one and a half hour’s rest. Germany proposed two hours’ rest, that exceptions should be admitted for certain industries, that further restrictions of working hours should be granted for particularly dangerous and unhealthy occupations, ; and that women should not be ‘employed 1 for four weeks after their accouchement. Mr Scott proposed to fix an average of 10 hours a day for women, and his proposal was supported by Hungary, France, and Portugal,