Health and Morals of Apprentices Act

The Health and Morals of Apprentices Act of 1802 was the first law enacted by the British Parliament to regulate child labor. It specifically addressed the apprenticeship of pauper children to cotton-mill owners. The act mandated that these apprentices, who often lived at the factories, be provided with adequate housing and education, and it limited their workday to 12 hours. However, the law was ineffective due to a lack of enforcement mechanisms. This act is considered a landmark in the historical development of labor law, preceding later, more comprehensive factory acts.12