Public policy of German empire concerning child labour protection in factory industry

This study considers the issue of child labour at industrial enterprises of German Empire in the 19th century. The author gives special attention to the period of late 1880-s, as it was the time when the public was actively debating the economic, moral and ethical rationale for exploiting children as a category of hired employees. The paper analyses and compares the views of different political forces able to make relevant decisions, including the Imperial Party, the Conservatives, the German Centre Party supporting preventive labour protection and the National Liberals protecting the industrial interests. The author establishes the fact the issue of child labour was under much public and legislative discussion based on analysis of stenographic reports of German Reichstag. The viewpoint of the Prussian government leader, Reichschancellor Otto von Bismarck, is of particular interest. Despite his active position in social politics and his reforms in the social security system in the 1880-s, Оtto von Bismarck was turned against introducing the legislation in the field of preventive labour protection. The author pays special attention to the results of the International Conference on Labour Protection held in March 1890 in Berlin and initiated by the Emperor Wilhelm II.