Clementina Black
Sweated industry and the minimum wage
"Sweated Industry and the Minimum Wage" by Clementina Black is a critical examination of labor conditions and socioeconomic issues surrounding underpaid workers in Britain, written in the early 20th century. The text focuses on the plight of various groups of exploited workers, particularly emphasizing the concept of "sweating," where workers receive inadequate wages, often while working in deplorable conditions. Black aims to critique the systems that perpetuate poverty and advocate for legislative changes, particularly the introduction of a minimum wage to alleviate the suffering of the working classes. At the start of the work, the author frames the issue of sweating within the wider context of social justice, indicating that individual charitable efforts have proven insufficient to address the systemic problems facing the lowest-paid workers. Black relates the experiences of home workers, such as matchbox makers and shirt makers, illustrating their harrowing daily lives filled with relentless toil for meager pay. The opening chapters also highlight specific case studies, including the tragic history of the Jarvis family, who succumbed to the dire conditions of their existence. Through personal accounts and investigations, Black sets the stage for a compelling argument advocating for substantial reforms in labor practices and protections for vulnerable working populations.