The Modern Age in Europe — (C) Industrial Revolution — Question 9

Two bad effects of the Industrial Revolution on labourers were:

1. Exploitation — People had to work for long hours and under harsh condition. Factory owners and managers paid the minimum amount necessary for a workforce, often recruiting women and children to tend the machines because they could be hired for very low wages.
2. Stress and Strain — Due to division of labour, each worker had to perform one task rather than a single worker doing the entire job. This improved productivity but made jobs repetitive and boring. Workers had to labour for many hours often more than 12-14 hours and people worked 6 days a week. Factory workers faced strict rules and close supervision by the managers. Safety was not a matter of concern, and workers often suffered serious even fatal accidents.