1. Extremely long working hours: Workers often labored for 12-14 hours a day, six days a week, with minimal breaks. This led to exhaustion and burnout, affecting both physical and mental health.
2. Unsafe and unhealthy work environments: Factories lacked basic safety measures, exposing workers to dangerous machinery, toxic fumes, and hazardous materials. Accidents were common, and inadequate ventilation led to respiratory illnesses.
3. Low wages and exploitative practices: Factory workers were paid meager wages, barely enough to survive. They were also subject to various exploitative practices, such as fines for minor infractions, forced overtime, and deductions from their pay.
4. Lack of job security and worker rights: Workers had little job security and could be easily dismissed. Labor unions were weak, and collective bargaining was virtually nonexistent. Workers lacked basic rights such as the right to strike or negotiate better conditions.
5. Child labor: Children as young as 8 were forced to work in factories, often under dangerous and unhealthy conditions. This deprived them of education and childhood, perpetuating a cycle of poverty.
6. Overcrowding and poor living conditions: Workers lived in overcrowded slums with inadequate sanitation, further contributing to their poor health.
7. Lack of access to healthcare and education: Workers had limited access to healthcare and education, making it difficult for them to improve their lives.
These harsh conditions contributed to a growing sense of discontent among workers and played a crucial role in the rise of revolutionary movements in Russia, culminating in the 1917 revolution.
It's important to note that conditions varied somewhat depending on the type of factory and the region. However, the general picture was one of widespread exploitation and misery, reflecting the social and economic realities of Tsarist Russia at the time.