Truck Act

In English law

This name is given to the statute 1 & 2 Wm. IV. c. 37, passed to abolish what is commonly called the "truck system," under which employers were in the practice of paying the wages of their work pcople in goods or of requiring them to purchase goods at certain shops. This led to laborers being compelled to take goods of inferior quality at a high price. The act applies to all artificers, workmen, and laborers, except those engaged in certain trades, especially iron and metui works, quarries, cloth, silk, and glass manufactories. It does not apply to domestic or agricultural servants.

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