"As of today, 13 incidents of workers destroying machines in Jiangnan area have occurred, covering areas such as Suzhou City, Hangzhou City, Songhu and other places. One person died, 34 were injured, and tens of thousands of taels of silver were lost. More than 100 prisoners were arrested and are waiting for trial. Tens of thousands of workers then went on strike and asked the government to ensure their rights in the popularization of machines and properly handle the arrested prisoners." Officials from the Ministry of Workers reported to Chu Yun about the latest situation of the Jiangnan workers incident.

Chu Yun rubbed his temples with a headache. He was planning to march into Japan. The Zhili Fleet and the Fourth Fleet were ready to go and prepared for the war. As a result, two major events occurred in the territory at the same time - one was the Jiangnan workers' movement incident, and the other was the Western Regions, and some local forces in the South China Sea held a new round of rebellion. Two emergencies forced Chu Yun to postpone the foreign war to the beginning of the next year.

Regarding the rebellion in the Western Regions, Chu Yun ordered the Monan Cavalry regiment with strong power to march towards the Yili area and cooperated with the Moxi Cavalry regiment familiar with the terrain of the Western Regions to quell the rebellion. The rebellion in the South Ocean was suppressed by the Nanyang Fleet and the Marine Brigade. The mobilization of troops and horses was another additional military expenditure.

In dealing with the rebellion, Chu Yun can also directly settle it with force, while Chu Yun must resolve the incident in Jiangnan workers more properly and gently. Labor-management contradictions are inevitable in the development of productivity.

"Our Ministry of Justice was discussing the drafting of labor law, but unexpectedly, before the labor law was formed, a conflict between workers and machines occurred." Chu Yun had tried his best to let the law be ahead, but the problems caused by the machine appeared early.

"Suzhou workers have four demands. First, the government properly resolved the incident of destroying machines. Second, it required the government to prohibit the sale of steam engines to the craftsman shop owners to prevent them from being fired. Third, it required general increase in wages. Fourth, it required a reduction in the workload of workers. The daily workload of some craftsmen was about seven hours." Officials from the Ministry of Works concisely summarized the demands of workers in Jiangnan for Chu Yun.

"After all, the person who destroys the machine violates the requirements of the law. You cannot give extra money because of the requests of other workers. Otherwise, everyone will make trouble in the future to solve the problem. Where is the law? It is also nonsense to prohibit the sale of steam engines. Steam engines are the foundation of our powerful country. Popularizing steam engines among the people can promote productivity. Technology transmission cannot be prohibited because of the pain caused by technological progress." Chu Yun planned to adhere to these two principles after learning about the Jiangnan workers incident.

One of them is that the law cannot be violated. Anyone who violates the law must make judgments in accordance with the law. The second is to insist on promoting industrial technology.

"Then Master, Jun, what do you mean is to reject the first two demands and agree with the next two demands?" The officials of the Ministry of Works heard Chu Yun's implicit voice.

"It is easy to reduce their workload, and only the longest working hours are required in the form of a law. However, it is difficult for our government to increase wages. Workers of different proficiency receive different wages. How should the government stipulate how much wages should be? If the government stipulates too high, then employers will think that it is not necessary to hire so many workers, and some workers who could have been hired will lose their job opportunities. The market will also adjust, and there will always be workers willing to accept lower wages. Under fierce competition, wages will return to their current level." Chu Yun understood the workers' demands, but the situation he faced was very complicated, and it was not to say that improving the workers' situation could be improved.

"Just reducing the workload of workers may not satisfy their group. What they are generally worried about is that they will be fired. If they cannot relieve this worry, they may not return to their posts with peace of mind." Officials from the Ministry of Works were also worried about this matter.

"The labor law we are thinking about is to ensure the rights of workers and other hired people, but it will take some time to improve it. I originally planned to officially promulgate after the end of the Japanese civil war next year. It seems that the labor law must be improved as soon as possible." Chu Yun said.

"The Jianghuai Administration is still waiting for our reply. The most urgent task is to appease the hearts of the workers in Jiangnan and make them believe that our government has the sincerity to improve their situation." An official from the Ministry of Works suggested.

"Jianghuai Administration Secretary, let each county in Jiangnan announce to the local workers that the government is legislating to protect their interests. There is currently one thing that is being considered, that is, the actual working hours of workers should not exceed six hours within one day, including one hour of rest in the middle. Two days off every seven days." Chu Yun said.

Six hours are 12 hours, with 2 hours of lunch break in the middle, with actual working hours of 10 hours and five days of working days. Such requirements are already very conscientious in the early stages of industrialization. In order to increase production, factory owners generally require workers to work more than 12 hours, and even rarely have holidays.

"There are also no right reasons for workers' wages to be deducted. The regulations on hiring child labor, unified training and reemployment system for dismissed workers are all considered. It is just a matter of great importance and is not something that can be done immediately after being said. Please ask local workers and people to believe in the government." Chu Yun added.

"I will convey your meaning to the Chief of Military Affairs, so that the Jianghuai Administration and the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Administration will convey to the workers in Jiangnan to stabilize their emotions. As for the arrested prisoners..."

"The prisoners continue to be detained and will make a judgment after the Labor Law is issued. Although they made mistakes, they have made some contributions to the labor law being issued as soon as possible." Chu Yun discovered that as the machines began to become popular, he was gradually driven by objective forces.

Even if he did not take the initiative to propose a special labor law, the workers' movement would make him think about the difficulties brought about by the industrial revolution from the perspective of workers, otherwise civil strife would arise.

The use of machines does make a large number of handicrafts unemployed, but it has also created batches of new jobs, such as shipyards, smelters, mining farms, lathe factories and other manufacturing technical workers, as well as newspapers, banks, schools, railways and other service workers. However, unemployed handicrafts do not have the corresponding knowledge and skills to meet the needs of new jobs. Unless they can get training and find new jobs, they can completely solve this problem.
Chapter completed!