How long did many factory workers work each day during the early Industrial Revolution?

During the early Industrial Revolution, factory workers—particularly women and children in textile mills—often endured grueling workdays lasting between 14 and 16 hours.1

This duration was considered traditional at the time, but it became increasingly oppressive as the nature of work grew more intense, fast-paced, and strictly regulated by the requirements of machinery. In addition to these long hours, workers were expected to maintain constant, punctual attendance and were subjected to strict shop rules that prohibited distractions such as idle chatter or wandering from their assigned posts.21

It is a fundamental ethical principle that the exploitation of human beings for economic gain is wrong. The harsh conditions of this era, characterized by long hours in unsanitary and dangerous environments, eventually sparked humanitarian movements and the development of labour law, which sought to protect workers—especially children—from such extreme mistreatment.341