Statute of Laborers
The Statute of Laborers was a labor market law that was passed in the English Parliament in 1351 in response to wage and price developments. This was in the reign of King Edward III. created a kind of labor legislation for the first time.
After the plague occurred in 1348 and 1349, the landlords were faced with an enormous population decline, which resulted in the remaining workers demanding higher wages.
The Statute of Laborers , in continuation of the Ordinance of Laborers from 1349, was intended to secure the landlords the provision of cheap labor and therefore set wages at the level before the plague. Wage rates were set for workers, prices were fixed at the pre-plague level and workers' mobility was restricted.
In addition, the statute stipulated, under threat of severe penalties, that all capable men and women up to the age of 60 could be called to work (this was the first time a distinction was made between those who were able to work and those who were unable to work) and prohibited workers from breaching contracts and exceeding the upper wage limit the landlords.
Special county representatives were appointed by the king to carry it out, but in practice the statute proved to be inadequately enforceable and was therefore unsuccessful. The statute was extremely unpopular among the population and contributed to the rise of unrest in the kingdom, which ultimately culminated in the Peasants' Revolt in 1381.