Labour and Dignity

Labour and Dignity (Arvorian: Труд и достоинство, Hallisised: Trud i dostoinstvo) is a manifesto written by Aleksandr Belikov, remembered by history as the Founding Father of modern Arvor. Published in 7556 RH, it presents an analytical approach to the concept of the value and importance of work balanced against the dignity and rights of the people. The book is considered a "foundational text" in the development of the modern socialist republic.

Belikov touches on three core trends in his work:

• Advancing technology, which the professor predicted would bring about great changes comparable to, or even beyond the scale of, the previous Industrial Revolution.
• Addressing environmental issues, wherein he cautions that careful management of natural resources and responsible stewardship of the natural beauty of the land is of great importance to a nation's well-being.
• Equity and opportunity, which focuses on the importance of increasing the equality of society and expanding the opportunities available worldwide, this spreading prosperity and positive development.

From there, he covers several key aspects of labour and its place within society: the dignity of labour, the relationship of labour and capital, the rights of workers, and the value and importance of work.

Dignity of labour

Labour and Dignity begins with the exposition that work is more than just an activity, or even a commodity. Belikov argues it is an essential part of life. Several passages within the text highlight this belief.

"Work is a fundamental component of life. While the religious beliefs of the many peoples of the world touch directly and indirectly upon the concept of honest work and speak of it in a myriad of ways, it is a fundamental truth of our existence that work is a part and parcel of the growth and advancement of civilisation. Even as the people learn, develop, and expand, focusing their efforts on harnessing the resources of this world and subduing it to their needs, however, it is equally important that they temper this drive with a rational and measured approach, making responsible use of said resources and the subdual of the land to their requirements and preserving the beauty and purity of it as much as possible."

"The world is a resource all peoples must harness in a planned and rational way. In this respect, therefore, it is vital that people are recognised as capable of deciding about themselves, and with a tendency to self-realisation. In this way, all people are the subject of work, as it through work, that vehicle of growth and development, that society is improved upon."

"In the modern world, there are a number of circumstances and situations that degrade the dignity of honest work. These represent a threat to the correct order of values. Work must not be treated as a product to be sold; the workers must not be treated as an impersonal "work force". When this happens, they are treated as little more than instruments. This violates the dignity of the people and reduces them to little more than numbers on a balance sheet and is a fundamental abrogation of the natural right of all people to be treated with equity and decency."

"When one understands it not as a capacity or aptitude for work, but rather as a set of instruments which the people can use in their work, technology is undoubtedly the ally of the people. It faciliates work, improves, accelerates, and augments it. It leads to an increase in the quantity of things produced, and by and large improves their quality. It is an unfortunate fact, however, that in some instances technology can be in opposition to the worker, as it can be used as an excuse to reduce the need for those whose skills are "hands on", and therein causes a reduction in employment. Thus, a balance is vital to both maintaining a strong production capability of dependable quality and ensuring that the people have access to work."