[Swiss federal work inspection in the light of a century of workmen's protection].

A hundred years ago, on March 24, 1877, the first federal law on factory workers protection was passed in Switzerland. It was updated in 1914, and in 1964 it was replaced by the present legislation which protects not only factory workers but also most other employees, such as in trade and commerce. The Cantons are responsible for the execution of the law, whereas on the federal level, four federal inspectorates and a medical division exercise supervisory functions. Their task is to see to it that there is countrywide uniformity in following the law.