Capitalism is a key incentive that investors use to increase the profit margins. The different approaches developed to help in profit maximization include the use of cheap labor, low-cost raw materials, and reduction of the costs of production in general. Fredrich Engel is a key icon in American history and his contributions on Economics of labor are significant. Engel arrival in the industrialization field had great timing to help bring out the exploitative actions of the employers.
Engel brings out the mortality rates and the death rates and the disease-related issues of the employees in the work environment. In some of the cities like Manchester and Liverpool majority of the employees suffered significantly from challenges like smallpox, measles, and hygiene related health conditions 1 . The diseases were prompted by the state of the work conditions.
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The objective of Engel in his works was to bring out the effects mass immigration in the urban areas in search of work. The migration contributed to the economic evolution 2 . Through the concepts on the environment of the working class, the author brings out the effects of the industrial revolution in the business world and the domestic population situation.
The ability of the Engel to build insight into the working conditions of the employees was induced by his attitude during the celebrations in the workplaces especially at his father's cotton industry. He preferred to spend time with the employees rather than dining with the rich and the owners of the firm 3 . The findings that he brings into light include the fact that the day works were repetitively characterized with long working hours and small wage rates. The children and women were subjected to working in the factories and thus child labor exploitation was on the page. Other deductions include the fact that the workers were subjected to long working hours of around 12-14 hours 4 . Furthermore, the wage rates of the employees were as low as 10 cents per hour which represents that they were paid 8- 10 dollars in one hour. The findings show the extent of the exploitation of the employees in the work environment. It is a great pity that the workers had to work in such harsh environments despite the fact that they contributed to the significant success of the companies.
The living conditions of the workers beyond the work environment were such that the workers lived in small one-room houses in the cities. The neighborhood was in extremely dirty conditions which raised health hazards. The companies or the industries never internalized the consequences of their actions. It is important to note that some of the diseases like cholera, typhoid and others were on a great spread and there was no clean water for consumption 5 . Industrial revolution facilitated rapid economic development at the cost of the welfare of the employees. The living standards of the workers were extremely low. Historical induction of the situation is that the employees were slaves of the rich and the rich used the workers from poor backgrounds to achieve their desired goals and targets in life. It is the poverty and the misery of the working class that inspired Engel to write on “The Conditions of the Working Class” which was published in 1844.
The working conditions of the employees in England were extremely bad. It is common that some historians and writers find Engel gloomy and asserts that he exaggerates the situation, however, his sentiments are based on realism 6 . For example, he states “I am forced to admit that instead of being exaggerated it is far from black enough to convey a true impression of the filth, ruin, and uninhabitableness of the working conditions.” 7 The general board backs up on health issues like Cholera that the slaughterhouses were utterly in bad shape as they produced an intense stench. The neighbors in the close locations woke up with headaches, nausea, and loss of appetite. Therefore, if the condition was such severe for the neighbors, the workers suffered immensely.
The works of the Engel is a key reflection of the challenges that the employees undergo under the exploitation of the employees. Although the conditions have significantly improved in the current society, it is notable that in some work sets, the employees are subjected to very harsh work environments that threaten their life and health significantly. It is important that the employers should appreciate that the employees are valuable assets that determine the success of the firm and thus their welfare should be maximized 8 . The historical contribution to the promotion of the working conditions of the employees is significant as the welfare and the wage rates are key factors of consideration in the current sets of the work environment.
The historical works of Engel had a significant influence on the improvement of the working conditions of the employees since 1830. Through bringing out the cruelty of the rich and the employers and owners of the industries it created the need to develop a focus on the development of the welfare of the working class. It is with no doubt that the working conditions of the workers have potentially been put into considerations. Some of the major revolutions include the rise in the wage rates, allowances, development of non-risky work environments, medical insurance covers among others. It is important that the employers should perceive the employees as assets and significant persons that influence the success of their firms rather than the slave treatment strategy.
Bibliography
Engels, Friedrich, 1820-1895. The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844 with Preface Written in 1892 : By Frederick Engels Translated by Florence Kelley Wischnewetzky. London :Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Paternoster Square, 1892.
Engels, Friedrich. 1968. The condition of the working class in England . Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press.
Free, Rhona C. 2010. 21st century economics: a reference handbook . Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.
1 Engels, Friedrich, 1820-1895. The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844 with Preface Written in 1892 : By Frederick Engels Translated by Florence Kelley Wischnewetzky. London :Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Paternoster Square, 1892.
2 Free, Rhona C. 2010. 21st century economics: a reference handbook . Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.
3 Engels, Friedrich, 1820-1895. The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844 with Preface Written in 1892 : By Frederick Engels Translated by Florence Kelley Wischnewetzky. London :Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Paternoster Square, 1892.
4 Engels, Friedrich. 1968. The condition of the working class in England . Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press.
5 Free, Rhona C. 2010. 21st century economics: a reference handbook . Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.
6 Free, Rhona C. 2010. 21st century economics: a reference handbook . Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.
7 Free, Rhona C. 2010. 21st century economics: a reference handbook . Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.
8 Engels, Friedrich, 1820-1895. The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844 with Preface Written in 1892 : By Frederick Engels Translated by Florence Kelley Wischnewetzky. London :Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Paternoster Square, 1892.
