Sweated Trades

Identify the name and date of legislation that introduced mechanisms to set up minimum wages in the sweated trades

The Trade Boards Act 1909

What was meant by sweated trades?

The trades in 4 industries notorious for intense levels of exploitation

• Workers = often paid by piece rates → workers paid based on how much they could manufacture

What mechanism was established by the legislation & how did it work?

Set up Trade Boards that were empowered to set min wages for the relevant trade & based on what the trade could afford rather than cost of living

How was this mechanism a departure from Gladstonian liberalism?

The Trade Boards included representatives from employers, workers and the state → more government intervention

How many workers were covered by the legislation?

• At start - covered 200,000 workers

• By 1913 - covered 6 trades and coal miners (1m coal miners)

Which occupation involving women was not covered by the legislation and why was this important?

The domestic service bc 40%+ women were employed here

What did employers often do instead of agreeing to min wages?

Invested in machinery