Seats for Shop Assistants Act 1899 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to provide for Seats being supplied for the use of Shop Assistants. |
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| Introduced by | 2 May 1899 (Commons) 12 June 1899 (Lords) |
| Dates | |
| Commencement | 1 January 1900 |
| Repealed | 1 May 1912 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Shops Act 1911 |
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Status: Repealed
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The Seats for Shop Assistants Act 1899 was an important law made by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its main goal was to help people who worked in shops, especially women. Back then, shop workers often had to stand for very long hours, sometimes more than twelve hours a day! This law aimed to change that.
The Act said that shop owners had to provide at least one seat for every three female employees. If a shop owner didn't follow this rule, they could be fined. The fine was up to three pounds for the first time they broke the law. If they broke it again, the fine would be between one and five pounds. This law was a big step towards better working conditions for shop assistants.
Contents
Why Was This Law Needed?
In the late 1800s, many people worked in shops. It was common for employers to expect their staff to stand all day. This was especially hard on women, who made up a large part of the retail workforce. Standing for such long periods could cause serious health problems. People started to realize that workers needed a place to rest during their long shifts.
How the Law Was Made
Making a new law in Parliament can be a long process. Here's how the Seats for Shop Assistants Act came to be:
Early Efforts in Scotland
A group called the Scottish Council for Women's Trades (also known as the Glasgow Council for Women's Trades) wanted to help. They wrote a draft law called the "Seats for Shop Assistants (Scotland) Bill." This bill was introduced by a Member of Parliament (MP) named John McAusland Denny.
The bill was first discussed in the House of Commons in February 1899. It was debated in April. However, when it reached the House of Lords, some powerful people, like Alexander Shand, 1st Baron Shand and Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, spoke against it. Because of their opposition, this version of the bill was stopped.
A New Bill for England and Wales
Around the same time, another MP named John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury introduced a similar bill. This one was meant for England and Wales. During the process where the bill was being carefully reviewed and changed (called the committee stage), MP Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet suggested an important change. He proposed that this new bill should also cover Scotland!
This combined bill then went to the House of Lords in July. It was supported by Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster and debated a lot. Lord Shand and the Prime Minister again tried to stop it. But this time, when the Lords voted, almost three-quarters of them voted in favor of the bill! This meant the law was passed.
What Happened Next?
The Seats for Shop Assistants Act 1899 was an important step. It showed that the government was starting to care more about the health and safety of workers.
The Law Is Updated
This 1899 Act was later replaced by a newer law called the Shops Act 1911. The 1911 Act included updated rules about seats for shop workers. It still required one seat for every three employees and kept the same fines. This shows that the idea of providing seats for shop assistants remained important for many years.
See also
- Right to sit
