Mockery of Labor

[Random_White_Guy]

Mockery of Labor
Refugee Senselessness, Frontier Legislation, and further infantalization of Labor
By Ruital ibn-Kharim

As my piece The Lily Wilting opens with a diatribe against the infantalization of the Laborer, it can only be presumed it is a message that is worth further dialogue. That the Purple and Gold Legates would in tandem pass such a law as the "Employee Protection Act" is not only a spit in the face of any who partake of the noble craft of labor, it is an insult to the pride of workers everywhere. A continued trend of Refugee Sensibilities attempting to dictate terms and moralizing of what is or is not acceptable of Civilization at large.

The dilemma? These Caravaneers whom have by virtue of being boardworkers convinced other boardworkers to name them Legates of Ephia's Well, moving and enacting sweeping Frontier Bureaucratic Legislation without care or foresight into the ramifications of such. A trading of future effort in exchange for the lumpy paste that is moral platitude. A sacrifice of political capital and indeed, state level reputation in relation to trading partners and more. I say unto you, Reader, nay implore you to consider these matters with the gravity as they stand.

For Izdu, god of Craftsmen, god of Civilization, Patron of Arts, Crafts, and Labor would be appalled by these refugee sensibilities.

Herein lay the Proclamation in question, and I pray that wisdom and reason shall reach the top of this Outpost's governance. As we've two weeks before this catastrophic legislation makes this freshly hatched Heron further mockery in the eyes of every City-State and Satrapy in the Great Ash Desert. Furthermore this continued mockery of Labor in disrespect of local guilds, unions, and further undertakings.

It is with the height of embarrassment that I, a Scholar of Izdu with multiple license and educational accolades from the Grand Academy of Baz'eel, must share that my own employment shall be been sundered by this impending law. You have read that correctly, as now to the State of Ephia's Well I am declared "A Child".

And by such, if this foolish law remains pending of enactment I will be unable to secure work. I shall, in four parts, attempt to deconstruct this frontier abomination before it may come to fruition.

I. The Employee Protection Act Part One
II. The Employee Protection Act Part Two
III. Refugee Sensibility
IV. What may be done

[Random_White_Guy]

The Employee Protection Act
Part One

I endeavor to educate in a line-by-line deconstruction offer the fallacy, failing, and embarassment that is the Employee Protection Act. Join me, fair reader, as we attempt to bring some sense to this mockery.

1 Minimum Wage: Every worker must be paid three dinari per hour at minimum.

Every worker. Pause to think of this. Every. Every single Worker in all of Ephia's Well. The Worm Hunter, no longer by the League of Minor Nuisances per worm, given Dinar for each hour he wears the pin and spends in the cool shade of the gutters. Sipping his wine, smoking his cigarettes, lounging free of the Demon's gaze.  Yet why should the Worm Hunter be paid the same as the skilled Jeweler, the delicate hands of the Tailor, or any other occupation?

I do not say this to denigrate the Worm Hunter, for it is a noble and true profession, but to say it is one that requires high skill is merely fact. We have had Refugees who know nothing of this world or realm wrestle with tooth and spear down a handful of worms since Ephia's reclaiming. Now they shall be guaranteed payment regardless of their output.

2 Maximum Hours: Workers are not permitted to work more than ten hours of the day unless there is an agreement for overtime pay between worker and employee.

By this logic, the Elf, who requires no sleep is now prohibited from doing a full day's work unless they are paid more by their employee. If the Employer refuses to pay extra for the same hours of work is it then his failing as an Employer? What further: The Scribe, eager to meet deadline for impending Legislation working both Human and Ashfolk Hours. The contract laborer who works of feast and famine now informed he must stall his deadlines? Enter into workplace negotiations each and every DAY that their labor is to be expended beyond ten hours?

Craftsmen by their very nature abhor negotiation. It is less time spent doing their crafts. Now they are mandated by Law. This, a poor notion.

3 Overtime Pay: Any hours spent working overtime must be paid at least at one and a half times the standard wage.

This is simply an abomination to any abacus. One and a half times standard pay for the same, or worsened, quality of work? Because an undertaking takes longer than 10 hours in a day? What incentive is there for a job to be completed in any remotely timely fashion if one may simply stall the hour-glass? And now instead of hiring two employees an Employer must hold in reserve a degree of liquidity in the event a Laborer is unable to conclude their work in a day's time? Now it must spread to multiple days or more is paid?

Preposterous.

4 Child Labour Protection: Children under half their adult age are not allowed to work at all. Children between half the age of an adult and the age of an adult only permitted to work half the hours of an adult. Adult Ages for Relevant Races: 18 (Humans), 35 (Ashfolk and Halflings), 120 (Elves), 50 (Dwarves), 45 (Gnomes), 140 (Stonefolk).

I cannot, in firm enough terms, state how insulting this is. That as a Citizen of Baz'eel the frontier government of this Outpost declare not only that I am a Child despite my many illustrious credentials, but that it will be illegal for me to seek employment moreso than five hours in a day.

Of which charge shall it be, if I seek gainful employment? Serious? Capital? No. It will be a Boardworking Magistrate who dictates the punishment. So not only may I not be paid, any who do pay me will be punished, and rather than a clearly defined reasoning it shall simply be left to the "Whims" of a Magistrate as dictated by Article Ten of this abomination.

Read on, dear reader. Read on.

5 Injury Pay: A worker injured at work in a way that renders them incapable of working is to be paid at half their daily rate by their employer until they are capable of working again. Claims of injury may be reviewed by a Judge.

So now not only must an Employer pay more for hours, they must also pay more for incompetence, and to refute this claim they must take time out of their busy schedule to attempt to hold a meeting with a Magistrate, majority of whom are Refugee Boardworker, and hope they have time to hear such a claim. Then they must raise case for why.

I offer pause, for this is a verbose act.

[Random_White_Guy]

The Employee Protection Act
Part Two

6 Paid Dismissal: A worker injured at work in a way that renders them permanently incapable of working is to be paid dismissal pay which is a flat sum equal to the severity of the injury. The paid dismissal pay shall be determined by a Judge.

So now not only is this legislation full of vaguery, Every single worker in the Outpost is to be a potential burden upon their employer in perpetuity as decreed by a Boardworking Magistrate or Legate. What, pray tell, shall inspire anyone to hire anyone knowing a single injury will see them made a ward of the Employer. How long will a Boardworking Magistrate determine a laborer who burns their hand upon a pot of tea will be given leave to burden an Employer for years to come?

7 Day of Rest: Every six days a worker must be given a day of rest.

Now I am not only legally permitted to work 5 hours a day, I am given an entire day less of worth than my contemporaries? By what sanity was this law drafted? Does the Chief SCribe and her servitors offer no Counsel to these legates? I take up this quill utmost flabbergasted. What am I to do on this "Day Off"? Ephia hardly has a vibrant social or cultural scene of arts. I cannot remember the last time I heard of any performance from the College let alone independent entertainer.

I am to sit in squalor and languish then, for no reason other than Refugee Sensibility?

8 Labour Liaison: Employers must permit a Liaison to monitor the status of workers; inspecting work sites; reporting worker injuries; collect data about worker injuries trends; providing said data to the Legates and Scribes.

Who is this Liason? Who assigns them? Who picks them? Who pays them? Are they paid for 10 hours or less? Shall they be subject to this new Labor Law? By what metrics shall the "Collect Date" about the trends of worker injuries? What qualifications hold them suitable for Inspection of each and every work site? What means proves them suitable to monitor the status of Workers?

9 Scope: This legislation does not apply to the Accord, Scribes, Students and does not apply to adventurer contract work. And specifically apply to people in service to an employer who owns the assets that are being worked with.

How exceedingly convenient, no? That the Accord, Government, and Institutions are given reprieve. And it is only those of us who make our Dinar off cooperation with private citizens shall be prohibited of our earnings and livelihood.

10 Violations: Each violation of this legislation will result in a fine to paid by the violating company. The fine shall be determined by a Judge.

A Magistrate cannot even be found to sit for a Trial half the time, for they are off on Boardwork. The Legates in tandem as well favoring trips upon the Contract Board as a reprieve from meetings.

Now they are to sit in judgement of any who employ me for six hours?  Shall my business await them to end their galavant? Shall my Employers? How long shall we be at the mercy of their enrichment before the case is dismissed? Or are we to languish in perpituity until such a time it is decreed they deign it appropriate to meet with us? Am I out of work in the interim while these matters are disputed?

This abomination raises a litany of question. And offers few if little answer.

[Random_White_Guy]

Refugee Sensibility

This is an increasing trend denoted time and again witnessed since my arrival here to the Frontier. This notion of "Refugee Sensibility". That their ethos, methods, and ways are superior to the traditions and generational practices that have ensured the Great Ash Desert endure. I would make specific note that the Great Ash Desert has endured while All other attempts have failed and faltered.

Re-read that last sentence, dear reader. Rings 53-99 to beyond have fallen and failed. Their methods of governance, their faiths and Gods, their ways and methods have all sundered and cracked beneath the entropy. Only Baz'eel has survived unscathed and now, in his glorious wisdom, does our Sultan have grand design for Ephia as announced at Kardesler.

And yet our ways deemed insufficient. That the Refugee's Sensibility shall see a new and bright future carved. That those who have only a decade in our Desert decree what ought be just, what is true, and what constitutes "Protection".

I cannot say this emphatically enough: That this Government deems me a child sparks a fire in me that I find difficult to put into words. I have worked diligently to receive the most robust and in-depth education I may. Numerous professors of the Great Academy of Baz'eel are those I consider personal mentor and friend. My Father's company I have worked in since I was old enough to walk with my Valet holding my hand. But to this Frontier government I am a Child, capable of only a modicum of employment. Forced one entire day of which I may not seek work. And further infantalization.

My father taught me much, as did my mother, as did the glorious Sultanate of Baz'eel. What the Government is not, is my mother. And now if I am to seek work those who hire me are criminal, as am I, apparently? Unless of course the Boardworking Magistrate takes time from their busy works to sit and speak with me, and my employer, and more.

Have you ever attempted a meeting with Magistrate Dudley? Her apathy knows no bounds unless it is of direct care to her Guild and War. Surely she shall be eager to sit with me and discuss the logistics of the book-editing process, or the consultations I give to those who hire me to assess their assets, or the ledgers of the Ashen Conclave trade hall I have worked in the past, or a litany of other employment efforts I have undertaken.

No.

I say unto you as emphatically as I might muster. Refugee Sensibilities are worthy of consideration. But they are not the means by which the entirety of our Governance ought be ruled. Anymore than the Il Modini who would dictate their way of life upon us all. Anymore than Fornato's principles, laughable and feeble as they are, dictate our lives.

This trend must stop. It must be pulled out at the root. Lest it only fester to grow further abuses and embarrassment upon the national stage.

[Random_White_Guy]

What may be done?

Of the question of what may be done, I offer the following:

Firstly I would demand each League take stock of how much faith they put in the current Legates. Each have begun to hold meeting as Election looms. That the Purple League would deviate so far from the Baz'eelan Norms is a robust shock, and I would imagine the League Officers would have much to say of their Legate's decree. So too do I find it fundamentally astounding that the League of Gold would so ardently support this mockery, this infringe upon their business by Refugee Sensibility.

Next, I imagine today's assembly as well as the upcoming Campaign will be wildly fraught over this matter. I, having now been declared a child by Ephia's Government, do hope I have the wisdom to use my Voice accordingly in this matter.

Third I can only imagine what this brings to our District. The District project has been delayed for years despite robust investment by the esteemed Director Gildebrand. I have no doubt now that this act shall drive further and further delays which will only strain her charitable investment.

Of Fourth I can only find it curious the means by which the Purple and Gold League have begun to parrot the works of the White League, coupled with the installation of the Cinquefoil Rose as Magistrate and Vizier supported by the Purple League. How very true to its founded tenants that the illustrious Balladeers of the Lost Hearth, steadfast ally of the League of expanding Baz'eel's influence.

Having spent most of my morning though enjoying Qaylan at Elossi and working at Rashid al-Rashid's most lovely bookshop however...

I grow deeply concerned over this trend. I ask, dear reader - To whom ought I turn?

When the Refugee claims they know more than those of us who have survived this Desert for decades longer than them, for generations, for milennia.

How long will those who work the Board be permitted to dictate our every deed - as if our Labor is some sacred goat and their Boardwork is some lofty endeavor? As they carve and butcher and then moralize upon our livelihood.

Senseless laws, from the senselessly violent Refugee.

Mother's Mercy to us all,
Ruital ibn-Kharim.