More About the Mining Act of 1842
Working conditions in mines in the Industrial Revolution in England were extremely harsh and The Mines Act , passed in 1842, hoped to improve them. The basic provisions of the act stated that –
• No female was to work underground
• Boys had to be at least 10 years old to work underground
• Parish apprentices who were between 10 and 18 years old were not affected – they could continue working in the mines
The Act however, did not address hours of work, only focusing on working conditions themselves in these mines. Although the act hoped to better lives and living conditions of the workers in the mines, it annoyed many women and hurt families because these women and children who were working in the mines often earned additional money which was essential in sustaining families.
• No female was to work underground
• Boys had to be at least 10 years old to work underground
• Parish apprentices who were between 10 and 18 years old were not affected – they could continue working in the mines
The Act however, did not address hours of work, only focusing on working conditions themselves in these mines. Although the act hoped to better lives and living conditions of the workers in the mines, it annoyed many women and hurt families because these women and children who were working in the mines often earned additional money which was essential in sustaining families.
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury
After going underground and witnessing the children as young as five working in the mines, he began to act against such horrendous situations for children. Therefore, he introduced the Mines and Collieries Act of 1842 in Parliament to outlaw the employment of women and children underground in coal mines. He led this act as a response to the working conditions of the children revealed in the Children's Employment Commission (Mines) 1842 report.
Laws that also helped protect children against child labor:
There were also three laws which had a very strong impact on the employment of children in the textile industry. These acts were:
- the Cotton Factories Regulation Act of 1819 (which set the minimum working age at 9 and maximum working hours at 12)
- the Regulation of Child Labor Law of 1833 (which established paid inspectors to enforce the laws)
- the Ten Hours Bill of 1847 (which limited working hours to 10 for children and women)