Bombay, August 12: The annual factory report of the Bombay presidency for 1925 indicates that measures for improving the conditions under which operatives work are being steadily enforced. There are now 1,460 factories in the presidency (one-fourth the total number of all factories in India), a net increase of 115 during the last year. The number of operatives employed in all industries rose from 354,853 in the previous year to 370,460, representing roughly one fourth of the factory population of India. Wages have remained fairly steady. The number of women in factories has increased from 72,679 in 1924 to 77,624 in 1925 while children have decreased from 9,779 in 1924 to 8,460 in the year under report.The introduction of compulsory education in large towns is expected further to narrow down the scope of double employment of children as also the legislation which the Government have in hand for penalising parents or guardians who are responsible for such employment. Published - August 13, 2026 03:50 am IST