Section 153. No system used by manufacturers for grading the work of a weaver shall affect or lessen the wages of the weaver except for imperfections in his own work; and in no case shall the wages of those engaged in weaving be affected by fines or otherwise unless the imperfections complained of are first exhibited and pointed out to the person whose wages are to be affected; and a fine shall not be imposed upon any person for imperfect weaving unless this section is first complied with and the amount of the fines is agreed upon by both parties.

Section 154. No employer shall impose a fine upon an employee engaged at weaving for imperfections arising during the process of weaving. Whoever violates this or the preceding section shall for the first offence be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars and for a subsequent offence by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars.

Section 155. The occupier or manager of every cotton factory shall supply to each person engaged as a weaver in said factory and paid by the piece, cut or yard a printed or written ticket with each warp which shall contain the following specifications as to the work to be done and wages paid: the number of cuts, the number of yards per cut or piece, the price per yard, cut or piece, the number of picks per inch and the number of reeds to the inch.

This section of the Massachusetts General Law applies to the occupiers or managers of textile factories. It mandates that specifications of the work and compensation rates must be posted in every room where employees work by the job. The specifications for weaving rooms must include details such as the intended and maximum length of a cut or piece, the count per inch of reed, the number of picks per inch, width of loom, width of cloth woven in the loom, and the price per cut or piece.

Section 157. Violation of any provision of section one hundred and fifty-five shall for the first offence be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than fifty dollars, and for a subsequent offence by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars. Whoever interferes with an inspector in the discharge of his duties in connection with the two preceding sections shall be punished as provided in this section.

Section 157A. Every person operating a factory or workshop shall supply to each employee therein who is paid by the piece, either at the time when such employee starts work or before the particular job or unit of work assigned to him is completed, and in any event before the day on which the next pay roll is calculated, a printed or written ticket, stating the basis of remuneration for the particular operation to be performed by such employee, or, in lieu of supplying such ticket, shall post in such factory or workshop within forty-eight hours after any such employee has completed any particular job or unit of work a statement showing the amount of pay earned thereon by such employee in addition to any hourly, daily or weekly rate, or by such other method as may be approved by the department of labor and workforce development, to which he may be entitled therefor.

Section 158. Deductions shall not be made from the wages of persons paid by the day or hour, and employed in the manufacturing or mechanical establishments, while machinery is stopped, if said persons are refused the privilege of leaving the mill while the damage to said machinery is being repaired; and if they are detained in their workrooms during such time they shall not be compelled to make up time lost by such stopping unless compensated therefor at their regular rates of wages.

Section 158A. Whoever requires or permits any person, as a condition of securing employment, to work in any factory, workshop, manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment without monetary compensation shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.

Section 159. A person engaged in manufacturing who requires from his employees, under penalty or forfeiture of a part of the wages earned by them, a notice of intention to leave such employ shall be liable to a like forfeiture, if, without similar notice, he discharges an employee.

Section 16. An inspector who directly or indirectly receives a reward, gift or gratuity on account of his official services shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than three months, and shall also be discharged from office.