What were the legal protections for matchstick girls, if any?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Matchstick Girl
The matchstick girls, primarily women and girls working in hazardous conditions in the late 19th century, had minimal legal protections. The Factory Acts in the UK aimed to improve working conditions, but enforcement was weak. The 1908 Children Act restricted child labor, and public outcry led to better regulations, yet many workers remained vulnerable to exploitation and unsafe environments.