Figure 1.-- This photo was taken on an estate in the municipality of Selander, near Stockholm. The photo was taken in summer 1911. The ladies dressed in white seem to be the family owning the estate. They are surrounded by the workers and their children. Notice the pin wheels that the children are holding. Some of the girls are wearing boys' caps which was rather unusual. We suspect that this was because they had older brothers.

We do not yet have much information on child labor in Sweden. We do note reports of child auctions during the 19th century. There was an estanlished system of auctions placing children with families if their parents could not look after them. Child labor was primarily in agriculture. Boys in the towns and cities might be appreticed. This began to change with the the industrial revolution of the 19th century, although there continued to be child labor in the agricultural sector. Sweden and the Scandinavian countries in general were among the leaders in addressing the problem of child labor. The Government passed a law to limit the hours children worked and to provide for government payments to health insurance funds established by workers' groups. Regulations protecting women working in mines were ot passed until the turn-of-the 20th century. [Nordstrom, p.78.] Laws protecting women also had a direct impact on chidren as they were the primary csare givers for young children. The Government was hostile toward organized labor throughout the 19th century which impacted working-class children, both children to young to work and those entering the labor force. We are not sure yet when compulsory school attendance was introduced. This of course was a key step in limiting child labor.

Child Auctions

We do not yet have much information on child labor in Sweden. We do note reports of child auctions during the 19th century. There was an estanlished system of auctions placing children with families if their parents could not look after them.

Areas

Child labor was primarily in agriculture. Boys in the towns and cities might be appreticed. This began to change with the the industrial revolution of the 19th century, although there continued to be child labor in the agricultural sector. We do not yet know much about the different areas in which Swedish children worked. We do note boys training as acrobats in the 1950s. We assume they performed in circuses.

Child Labor Laws

Sweden and the Scandinavian countries in general were among the leaders in addressing the problem of child labor. The Government passed a law to limit the hours children worked and to provide for government payments to health insurance funds established by workers' groups. Regulations protecting women working in mines were ot passed until the turn-of-the 20th century. [Nordstrom, p.78.] Laws protecting women also had a direct impact on chidren as they were the primary csare givers for young children. The Government was hostile toward organized labor throughout the 19th century which impacted working-class children, both children to young to work and those entering the labor force. We are not sure yet when compulsory school attendance was introduced. This of course was a key step in limiting child labor.

Sources

Nordstrom, Byron J. The History of Sweden.

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Created: 6:34 PM 8/24/2009
Last updated: 6:34 PM 8/24/2009