What sort of reforms through laws were made by the British government to improve the condition of workers? What were the weaknesses of these measures?

The reforms through laws made by the British government were as follows:

• Act of 1819: In 1819, laws were passed. It prohibited the employment of children under the age of nine in factories. It limited the hours of work of those between the age of 9 and 16 to 12 hours a day.
• Act of 1833: Under the Act of 1833, chi’dren under the age of nine were permitted to be employed only in silk factories. This act also limited the hours of work for older children. A number of Factory Inspectors Act were also employed to ensure that the Act was enforced.
• Ten Hours Bill: In 1847, the Ten Hours Bill was passed. This bill limited the hours of work for women and children and secured a ten-hour day for male workers.
• The Mines Commission of 1842: The Mines Commission was set up in 1842. This commission revealed that working conditions in mines had become worst, because more children had been put to work in coal mines.
• The Mines and Collieries Act of 1842: The Mines and Collieries Act of 1842 banned children under ten and women from working in underground mines.
• Fielder’s Factory Act of 1847: In this act, it was laid down that children under eighteen and women should not work more than ten hours a day.

The weaknesses of the these measures were as follows:

• It was the duty of factory inspectors to enforce the factory laws. But the inspectors were poorly paid and easily bribed by factory managers.
• Parents lied about the real ages of their children, so that they could work and contribute to family incomes.