1. Rampant Child Labor
In Victorian England, children as young as five were compelled to work in factories, mines, and on the streets, enduring exploitation and perilous conditions. They often faced 12- to 16-hour shifts with minimal pay, leading to high injury and mortality rates. The Mines and Collieries Act 1842 prohibited women and girls from working underground and set a minimum age of ten for boys employed in underground work. Despite such legislation, child labor remained widespread, with many children working in hazardous environments without adequate protection (birmingham.gov.uk).
