Reforms to help the working classes
The Workmen's Compensation Act 1906
The success of this was:
- all employees could now receive compensation for injuries sustained at work
The limitations of this were:
- in theory this was good, but it was difficult and costly to prove the liability of employers
- many cases could not be brought to court without trade union support
The Coal Mines Regulation Act 1908
The success of this was:
- the maximum working day for miners was set at eight hours
The limitation of this was:
- it only applied to miners, not other workers
The Trade Boards Act 1909
The successes of this were:
- it set up boards to negotiate a minimum wage in box-, lace-, chain-making and tailoring trades
- this benefitted 200,000 workers
The limitation of this was:
- no attempt was made to define what the 'minimum wage' was
The Shops Act 1911
The successes of this were:
- shop workers granted a weekly half-day holiday
- the maximum working week for shop workers was set at 60 hours
- washing facilities were to be provided in every shop
The limitation of this was:
- it was only a half-day holiday, not a full day