Chapter 17: Chapter 17, ‘Labor Protection Law

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The nobility were taking action, and the capitalists were certainly not idle either, having always considered themselves Reformists, they were now suddenly switching roles, which many found very uncomfortable.

In a manor in Vienna, a banquet was being held, attended mostly by Austrian capitalists, and of course, there was no shortage of experts and scholars.

“Mr. Verris, public opinion is very unfavorable towards us at the moment, many people are criticizing us for being solely profit-driven, and if we don’t take action, the enemy’s plot will succeed!”

“Indeed, it’s easy for them to talk without considering the actual situation, the competition is so fierce these days, our profits are already thin!”

“Exactly, we have just this little bit of profit, the market is changing all the time, and we might make money today only to lose it tomorrow. We have to keep investing in expanding production, it’s good enough that we can employ workers!”

Where is there money to improve their treatment? If there’s a Labor Protection Law that gives all the benefits to workers, wouldn’t we be working for nothing?

Then, who would invest in industry? These nobles, they lie back and make money every day, always thinking about these underhanded tactics!”

…

The highly respected Mr. Verris spoke up: “Gentlemen, we are all aware of these issues, and now is the time we must unite to show the enemy our strength!

The Labor Protection Law is absolutely unacceptable, once there is a first time, there will be a second, if we concede, the enemy will press on step by step.

The nobility wants to strangle us, they don’t have the guts to act directly, so they’ve come up with this insidious idea.

Don’t think that the current Labor Protection Law only requires us to take a small step back, but once the enemy’s ambition prevails, they will constantly incite workers against us.

In the end, they will use high labor costs to drive us to decline, ensuring their lofty status remains unshaken!”

“Mr. Verris, what should we do now? You know, it’s the nobility that controls the government now, many of us have already used our influence to lobby the government, but things still don’t look promising!”

Mr. Verris said with a sneer: “Mr. Trios, you’re right, the nobility controls the government, how could our pleas be effective?

Why would the nobility propose the ‘Labor Protection Law’? Do you think their compassion is overflowing? If that were the case, why don’t they emancipate the serfs?”

Right, why would the nobility suddenly become kind-hearted?

Everyone was an old fox, and it wasn’t hard to see through this issue; in a short time, several reasons were speculated.

For example: as a diversion, shifting the focus of reform to workers’ welfare; or as revenge by the noble class for the capitalist class’s demand to abolish serfdom…

“Does Mr. Verris mean that we should just keep doing what we’re doing?” Mr. Trios asked uncertainly.

Mr. Verris said indignantly: “Exactly, we can’t be led by the nose by the enemy. The main purpose of the nobility proposing the ‘Labor Protection Law’ is to make us concede.

But can we concede?

To step back is to fall into an abyss!

Right now, the most important thing is to expose the enemy’s wolfish ambition, win over more people to our side, and achieve ultimate victory!”

“But Mr. Verris, the enemy caught us off guard with a sudden strike, public opinion is very unfavorable towards us, and many impartial parties are leaning towards them on this issue,” Mr. Hamm asked with a frown.

Mr. Verris’s face changed; he knew he hadn’t quite convinced everyone as the leader, with Mr. Hamm being one of the challenges. On the surface, Mr. Hamm’s question seemed inoffensive, but it concealed a hidden malice.

“Mr. Hamm, I think such a simple matter is not a problem for us at all, isn’t it easy to persuade them?

Bribe some of them to speak for us, eliminate the stubborn opposition, frame it on the secret police, this isn’t the first time for such things!”

Whether it’s ethical or not doesn’t matter anymore, public opinion can be manipulated. Everyone is fighting for their interests, the capitalists don’t want to give up what they’ve earned, not even if the government makes concessions in other areas.

Always wanting to gain without giving up anything, that’s the nature of the capitalists; they might be weak elsewhere, but when it comes to their own interests, they can bring out their full fighting spirit.

Now that Mr. Verris has made things clear, everyone can drop the pretense of gentlemanly manners, and soon Austria will feel what it means to be cornered by the capitalists.

…

The fighting power of the capitalists is formidable, especially in influencing public opinion, much stronger than the nobility. Were it not for the biased system of press censorship, the public opinion would have already turned around.

Looking at the intelligence in his hands, Franz couldn’t be bothered to criticize. During this battle, the Conservative nobility proved utterly ineffectual.

The first to be cheated by the capitalists were the students, with Vienna University falling first, many believed it was a hoax concocted by the government.

Whether they truly believed it or just pretended to, Franz didn’t know, but he was clear that many people had been bought by the capitalists.

Franz ordered: “Tyren, signal to Archduke Louis to discover the bourgeoisie’s conspiracy, and expedite the Labor Protection Law!”

The best course of action now was to create a fait accompli while the capitalists were counterattacking.

As for the specific contents of the Labor Protection Law, Franz couldn’t be less involved; he knew that the nobility wanted revenge on the bourgeoisie, so the provisions of this law would be very unfavorable to the capitalists.

Franz could no longer be troubled with the connection between the Intelligence organization and the nobility; he had to admit that he overestimated these decadent nobles.

After all, they controlled the government, and a mere piece of legislation hadn’t taken effect for months under the influence of the bourgeoisie.

Time flew, and after months of disputes and wrangling, on November 21, 1847, a new page in history was turned as the Austrian Empire’s first ‘Labor Protection Law’ was impressively introduced.

The Labor Protection Law stipulated:

1. From March 1, 1848, Austria would implement an eight-hour workday, with workers having the option to work overtime (capitalists must not cut wages for this, and overtime must be paid).

2. Local governments will soon enact minimum wage standards, and any factory operating within Austria must comply.

3. Worker injury protection provisions will be implemented, with specific measures to be introduced by the government soon.

4. Withholding wages without cause or delaying payment is prohibited, offenders will be liable for compensation ten times the amount or more, and the Department of Industry and Commerce may issue fines depending on the severity of the situation;

…