Chapter 146 A Fair Evaluation Of Labor
"It's surprising, but there are fewer guilds that offer cooperation than I thought. I didn't think there wouldn't be a glassworker's guild. There is a blacksmith's guild, though."
Cindy looked puzzled.
"Are you that concerned, Miss Sara? To be honest, there aren't many independent glass workshops like mine. Most glassworkers are employed by merchants."
"Ah, I see. So, maybe jewelers and other craftsmen too?"
"Jewelers, for instance, specialize in specific skills. Some are skilled at cutting and polishing magic stones or gems, while others excel at metal processing. Of course, some craftsmen do everything themselves, but most work in a division of labor. There are craftsmen who use our glass products to make cufflinks and the like."
"In other words, a single workshop can't produce a finished product on its own?"
"That's right. These workshops are usually employed by a merchant, and they produce parts according to the merchant's orders."
'It's like an ecosystem, with a supply chain in place.'
"I understand, but at the same time, I've become uneasy."
"What's making you uneasy, Miss Sara?"
"Maybe there are restrictions, like only being able to contract with one merchant?"
"Yes, most are exclusive contracts."
"If a merchant demands a price cut, can the workshop refuse?"
"That's correct. Basically, the merchant sets the price. The reason I was able to establish an independent workshop is that my grandfather rebelled against a merchant's tyranny. Fortunately, I have a good relationship with my patron, but I think many workshops struggle with difficult circumstances."
"I suppose that's true."
Castor, who was taking notes, looked up.
"Miss Sara, isn't this a situation where the 'principle of competition' we discussed before isn't working?"
"Exactly so."
Sara nodded greatly at Castor.
"The merchants are using their advantageous position to exploit the craftsmen, forcing them to work under unfair conditions. To correct this situation, a union――a guild system――would be effective. It's unacceptable for the merchants to buy out the products made by the craftsmen's hard work and dedication at their whim. When the merchants try to force their way, the craftsmen can band together as a guild and resist. What about forming a comprehensive Craftman Guild for fields that don't have a specific guild, or have few members?"
"But, Miss Sara, aren't you originally on the side of the merchants? Wouldn't forming such a guild put yourself at a disadvantage?"
Castor asked, and Sara firmly denied it.
"No. In the long run, it's beneficial for the merchants as well."
"What do you mean?"
"If the merchants become too oppressive, the craftsmen will be forced to quit. How many craftsmen can continue to polish their skills with passion in a situation where their skills aren't properly evaluated? I can only imagine a future where it becomes difficult to train the next generation of craftsmen. Once a skill is lost, it can never be recovered. And that means the merchants will also lose their source of high-quality products."
"I see. As a bureaucrat in charge of commerce and industry, I have no choice but to agree."
The Marquis and the bureaucrats wore expressions of satisfaction and nodded. And then, Cindy... was crying.
"What's wrong? Did I say something terrible? Or is something bothering you? What should I do!"
Sara was extremely flustered by the scene of a woman crying tears of sadness right in front of her.
"No, it's okay. I just got a little emotional."
Cindy wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and replied in a nasal voice.
"As I mentioned earlier, my grandfather couldn't take the bullying from the merchant's guild, so he went independent. At first, he didn't get any big jobs, so he took on subcontracting work from other workshops, and my grandmother had to work as a farmhand. My grandfather wanted to quit being a craftsman many times, but my grandmother stopped him each time. It wasn't until my father's generation that we were able to get orders for delicate crafts, but even then, we got bought out by the merchant's guild a lot... It's just that I'm really happy to have someone who understands our situation, someone from the lord's family..."
James comforted his fiancée by putting his arm around her shoulder. It seemed he already knew the story, so he didn't look surprised.
However, as Sara watched James's behavior, a feeling of unease welled up in her chest.
"I have something I must say to Grandfather and all the bureaucrats..."
"Hmm, Sara's about to make a plea, is she? That's somehow terrifying..."
Although he was a bit tipsy, the Marquis's face turned extremely serious.
"These kinds of problems can happen to all workers. I mean, it's not just limited to craftsmen, but to all laborers. Human activities, in other words, are created by people's labor. People work to earn a living and support themselves and their families."
"You're right."
James nodded as if it was a matter of course.
"However, there's a problem where these laborers are unfairly treated by those who pay them, such as merchants who buy goods from craftsmen, or employers who request work from them. Specifically, they don't get fair pay for their work, get fired without a valid reason, or are subjected to unfair 'Iyagarase (harassment)' by their employers or supervisors."
"I understand about unfair pay and firings, but I don't really get what you mean by the third one, 'Iyagarase'..."
Benjamin looked puzzled and asked Sara.
"Well, it's when someone uses their power to belittle others, make violent threats, or force them into a romantic relationship. People who do these kinds of 'Iyagarase' say things like 'If you don't like it, go somewhere else' or 'If you don't like it, quit' without a care."
"Yeah, that's true."
Marquis also agreed.
"If this situation continues, laborers will become exhausted, both physically and mentally. As a result, the quality of their work will suffer, their relationships with their families will deteriorate, or in the worst case, they might even become criminals."
"Is it really that extreme, Miss Sara? I've been a bureaucrat in charge of commerce and industry for 3 years, but I've never looked at it from that perspective before."
Castor was taken aback, his eyes widening as he was pointed out for the problems he had neglected as the person in charge of commerce and industry.
"Come on, Mr. Castor, you're the one who's been overworking and collapsing from exhaustion. Isn't this the responsibility of your superior, or rather, my grandfather's responsibility?"
"No, no, it's not that simple..."
"Of course, I understand there are reasons behind it. But wouldn't it be better if Mr. Castor's mental health wasn't affected? If this kind of labor is forced upon you every day, what then?"
"That would be an inexcusable outrage."
"But what if the employer or superior says, 'If you don't like it, you can just quit. There are plenty of other workers'?"
"..."
Sara gazed at the bureaucrats with a serious expression.
"You are all elites who graduated from the Academy, and you have the privilege of choosing your own workplace. My ancestors, starting with my grandfather, are grateful to have become bureaucrats of Grandchester, and we are thankful for that. However, I want you to understand that there are many more workers who are not in the same position.
Laborers should have their work evaluated fairly. If their rights are infringed upon by some power, we must prepare a means to counter it. When all laborers' rights are guaranteed, and a healthy work environment is maintained, people will work with enthusiasm, and the rewards they receive will be returned to the market. That's how the entire territory will prosper, and eventually, the country will become wealthy."
"You're saying that protecting laborers is equivalent to enriching the territory?"
"Precisely. Who would follow a ruler who doesn't protect their people?"
She should say "national citizens" instead of "subjects of the land", but Sara held back from saying that, as it might be seen as disrespectful. Originally, she should have been more mindful when speaking to the Marquis as well, but since she's from a lord's family, she thought it wouldn't be a problem.
The bureaucrats looked like they had been struck by lightning, their faces pale with shock, while Cindy, who had been crying, stopped and looked stunned. In fact, everyone was frozen in place.
"Protecting the people means defending their daily lives from external threats and ensuring their livelihood, huh..."
"You should protect the workers so they can earn their daily bread through honest labor."
"I see."
The Marquis and the bureaucrats had no choice but to agree.
"I feel like our conversation has become a bit too grand, but for that reason, I think it's necessary to establish a guild. Not just for glassworkers, but a comprehensive Craftman Guild to protect many craftsmen. And, although I don't know how the Commerce Guild is operated, if it's a guild that benefits the merchants, then we should either create a separate guild for laborers or establish a department within the Commerce Guild that's more worker-friendly."
"The lord cannot interfere with guild operations."
"That's important, Grandfather. Power should be decentralized. Otherwise, people can't counter the lord's tyranny."
"Hmph... I won't do that."
"But grandfather might not, what about future lords?"
"That's true."
The bureaucrat in charge of agriculture, Pollux, was shocked by Sara's words, but he wore a distant expression, as if it was someone else's problem. He seemed to think it was outside his job scope. Sara noticed this and decided to poke at him.
"By the way, Mr. Pollux, don't you have an agricultural guild?"
"We don't have one."
'I see, so there's no agricultural cooperative.'
"Many farmers work with their families, but large farms also have employment relationships, right?"
"That's right."
"Then, of course, we should protect them too. There's also the issue of farmers' produce being bought up by merchants."
"I see, that's true..."
As Sara smiled sweetly at him, Pollux's words caught in his throat.
"But if I say too much, it'll become a matter of territorial reform, so I'll stop here."
"Sara, that's..."
"Territorial reform is something that should be discussed and decided by the lord, the next lord, and the bureaucrats. Of course, it's also important to hear the voices of the people. Many opinions will be heard, and the final responsibility lies with the lord, grandfather. As someone affiliated with the merchant guild, if I intervene too much, fairness will be lost."
"...I understand."
The Marquis, who had suddenly sobered up, couldn't help but wear a bitter expression.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)