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satisfactory workers, as they so often arrive at their work place
unpunctually, or absent themselves altogether, owing to the demands
made upon their time and attention by their children. The
employers therefore give the preference to unmarried women or
those mothers whose children are older and more able to look after
themselves. It follows therefore that the employment of the
mothers of young children does not obtain to any very great extent:
and that this is so the following figures show:—
Of 1,302 Women Employed in Workshops
in this Borough only 91 (less than 7%) are the mothers of children
under 5 years, while among 1,859 mothers interviewed for different
reasons during this year, only 136 go out to work in workshops,
(4.9%). A further 4% are employed as charwomen, school cleaners,
hawkers and the like; about 8% are outworkers, and the remainder
(83.1%) are not employed. In the great majority of cases, expectant
mothers give up their work some time (from 1-2 months is usual)
before their confinement. In some work places there is a rule that
they shall do so; where they are allowed to do as they please, and
work is continued later, poverty is the reason given.
It is a usual practice also to allow 2 or 3 months to elapse after
confinement before returning to work. There are exceptions to
this rule too, and again poverty is the alleged cause.
The worst cases that have come under my notice during the
year, are these :—
(a) Mrs. R., (widow; the mother of an illegitimate child)
returned to work when the child was 14 days old.
(b) Mrs. W., married. Husband out of work. Returned to
work when her infant was 3 weeks old
(c) Mrs. B., school cleaner for L.C.C. Husband out of work,
returned 28 days after confinement.
(d) Mrs. S. Husband deserted her before the child was
born. Worked till a few hours before confinement, and
returned 3 weeks after.