»Even less difficult work, if it lasts for 13 hours a day, is too strenuous for the tender years of youth and kills the spirit«

On the history of child labour in the Gubernium of Ljubljana

Abstract

The article presents the report addressed to the Gubernium of Ljubljana made out by the regional bureaus of Ljubljana, Postojna, Novo mesto and Villach, as well as the Ordinary's Offices of the Ljubjana, Lavantine and Krško bishoprics and the directorate of the Association for the Support and Promotion of Industry and Craftsmanship in Inner Austria on the subject of child labour in factories. The survey was conducted in 1839/1840 throughout the empire. Its intent was to ascertain whether the existing regulations were being adhered to or whether it was necessary to adopt new, more precise legal measures regarding child labour. The result of the survey was the Decree passed by the Court Office in 1842 regulating the duration of the working shifts of children employed by factories. In parallel to this, the article also presents the legislation pertaining to the regulation of this problem in the Hapsburg monarchy from the first empirical decree passed in 1786, up until the Craftsmen's Statute issued in 1859. In connection with this topic, the author also examines the workings of Sunday schools and revision classes, as well as the attempts to found factory schools. It is evident from the report that child labour was employed on the territory of Slovenia in the cotton mills in Ajdovščina and Ljubljana, the sugar refinery in Ljubljana and in some of its affiliated factories in Carinthia. However, the practice was not so widespread due to the poor concentration of industrial plants in the land.