<P> Robert Owen had raised the demand for a ten - hour day in 1810 , and instituted it in his socialist enterprise at New Lanark . By 1817 he had formulated the goal of the eight - hour day and coined the slogan : `` Eight hours ' labour , Eight hours ' recreation , Eight hours ' rest '' . Women and children in England were granted the ten - hour day in 1847 . French workers won the 12 - hour day after the February Revolution of 1848 . A shorter working day and improved working conditions were part of the general protests and agitation for Chartist reforms and the early organisation of trade unions . </P>
<P> Robert Owen had raised the demand for a ten - hour day in 1810 , and instituted it in his socialist enterprise at New Lanark . By 1817 he had formulated the goal of the eight - hour day and coined the slogan : `` Eight hours ' labour , Eight hours ' recreation , Eight hours ' rest '' . Women and children in England were granted the ten - hour day in 1847 . French workers won the 12 - hour day after the February Revolution of 1848 . A shorter working day and improved working conditions were part of the general protests and agitation for Chartist reforms and the early organisation of trade unions . </P>
who came up with the 8 hour workday
who came up with the 8 hour workday
Robert Owen
Robert Owen