The Factory Act

The Factory Act refers to a series of laws enacted mainly in the 19th century to improve conditions in factories. These laws set regulations on working hours, especially for women and children, mandated safety standards, and required proper ventilation and sanitation. The goal was to protect workers from exploitative working environments and ensure their health and safety. The Act marked a significant step towards labor rights, emphasizing humane working conditions and limiting excessively long shifts, thereby promoting social reform and industrial welfare.