Socialism and Democracy in Europe Part 38

(_a_) Creation of a Ministry of Labor.

(_b_) Pecuniary aid from the public authorities for the organization of labor secretariates by workmen and employers.

2. _Legal recognition of a.s.sociations, especially--_

(_a_) Legal recognition of trade-unions.

(_b_) Reform of the law on friendly societies and co-operative societies and subsidy from the public authorities.

(_c_) Repression of infringements of the right of combination.

3. _Legal regulation of the contract of employment._

Extension of laws protecting labor to all industries, and especially to agriculture, shipping, and fishing. Fixing of a minimum wage and maximum of hours of labor for workers, industrial or agricultural, employed by the State, the Communes, the Provinces, or the contractors for public works.

Intervention of workers, and especially of workers' unions, in the framing of rules. Suppression of fines. Suppression of savings-banks and benefit clubs in workshops. Fixing of a maximum of 6,000 francs for public servants and managers.

4. _Transformation of public charity into a general insurance of all citizens--_

(_a_) against unemployment;

(_b_) against disablement (sickness, accident, old age);

(_c_) against death (widows and orphans).

5. _Reorganization of public finances._

(_a_) Abolition of indirect taxes, especially taxes on food and customs tariffs.

(_b_) Monopoly of alcohol and tobacco.

(_c_) Progressive income-tax. Taxes on legacies and gifts between the living (excepting gifts to works of public utility).

(_d_) Suppression of intestate succession, except in the direct line and within limits to be determined by law.

6. _Progressive extension of public property._

The State to take over the National Bank. Social organization of loans, at interest to cover costs only, to individuals and to a.s.sociations of workers.

i. _Industrial property._

Abolition, on grounds of public utility, of private ownership in mines, quarries, the subsoil generally, and of the great means of production and transport.

ii. _Agricultural property._

(_a_) Nationalization of forests.

(_b_) Reconstruction or development of common lands.

(_c_) Progressive taking over of the land by the State or the communes.

7. _Autonomy of public services._

(_a_) Administration of the public services by special autonomous commissions, under the control of the State.

(_b_) Creation of committees elected by the workmen and employees of the public services to debate with the central administration the conditions of the remuneration and organization of labor.

B.--_Particular Measures for Industrial Workers_

1. _Abolition of all laws restricting the right of combination._

2. _Regulation of industrial labor._

(_a_) Prohibition of employment of children under fourteen.

(_b_) Half-time system between the ages of fourteen and eighteen.

(_c_) Prohibition of employment of women in all industries where it is incompatible with morals or health.

(_d_) Reduction of working-day to a maximum of eight hours for adults of both s.e.xes, and minimum wage.

(_e_) Prohibition of night-work for all categories of workers and in all industries, where this mode of working is not absolutely necessary.

(_f_) One day's rest per week, so far as possible on Sunday.

(_g_) Responsibility of employers in case of accidents, and appointment of doctors to attend persons wounded.

(_h_) Workmen's memorandum-books and certificates to be abolished, and their use prohibited.

3. _Inspection of work._

(_a_) Employment of paid medical authorities, in the interests of labor hygiene.

(_b_) Appointment of inspectors by the Councils of Industry and Labor.

4. _Reorganization of the Industrial Tribunals_ (Conseils de Prud'hommes) _and the Councils of Industry and Labor_.

(_a_) Working women to have votes and be eligible.

(_b_) Submission to the Courts to be compulsory.

5. _Regulation of work in prisons and convents._

C.--_Particular Measures for Agricultural Workers_

1. _Reorganization of the Agricultural Courts._