"In nineteenth century Britain, the first working time regulations were prompted by humanitarian concerns about women and children employed in factories. In the United States, working time laws were initially introduced in response to union activism and labour unrest. During the twentieth century, policy-makers enacted statutes that shortened hours of work in an attempt to spread available work and thereby curb unemployment. The past 20 years, with the adoption of the European Working Time Directive, have reflected a movement towards social and political integration, continuing political pressure to curb unemployment, and growing acceptance of ergonomics and work organization as components of international safety regulation."

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