Explain how the condition of workers steadily declined in the early 20th century Europe.
The factors were as follows : Abundance of labour and wait for jobs : There was abundance of labour in the market. Job-seekers had to wait for weeks. They had to spend nights under bridges or in the night Shelters or in Night Refuges or Casual Wards maintained by the Poor Law authorities. One could get a job quickly if he had social connections. Seasonal work : Work in many industries such as gas works, breweries was seasonal. There were, therefore, long periods without work. As a result of this, some returned to the countryside while other did odd jobs. Low wages and less period of employment : Wages were increased to some extent in the early mid-nineteenth century but as the period of employment was less, the average income was low. About 10 per cent of the urban population was very poor. In periods of economic slump, like the 1830s, the proportion of unemployed went up to between 35 and 75 per cent in different regions Introduction of new technology : The workers were against the introduction of new technology due to fear of unemployment. So, when the Spinping Jenny was introduced in the woolen industry, women workers attacked the new machines. The condition of workers was, therefore, “hot satisfactory. However after the 1840s employment opportunities increased due to building activities and transport industry.
