The Ordinance of Labourers 1349 (23 Edw. 3) is often considered to be the start of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

labour law Labour laws (also known as labor laws or employment laws) are those that mediate the relationship between workers, employing entities, trade unions, and the government. Collective labour law relates to the tripartite relationship between employee, ...

.''Employment Law: Cases and Materials''. Rothstein, Liebman. Sixth Edition, Foundation Press. p. 20. Specifically, it fixed wages and imposed

price controls Price controls are restrictions set in place and enforced by governments, on the prices that can be charged for goods and services in a market. The intent behind implementing such controls can stem from the desire to maintain affordability of good ...

; required all those under the age of 60 to work; prohibited the enticing away of another's servants; and other terms.

Background

The ordinance was issued in response to the 1348−1350 outbreak of the

Black Death in England The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic, which reached England in June 1348. It was the first and most severe manifestation of the second pandemic, caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' bacteria. The term ''Black Death'' was not used until the l ...

.Cartwright, Frederick F. 1991. ''Disease and History''. New York: Barnes & Noble. pp. 32–46. During this outbreak, an estimated 30−40% of the population died.What was the Economy Like After the Black Death?
''The Plague and England'', Cardiff University. Retrieved on April 11, 2009. The decline in population left surviving workers in great demand in the agricultural economy of Britain. Landowners had to face the choice of raising wages to compete for workers or letting their lands go unused. Wages for labourers rose and translated into

inflation In economics, inflation is an increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation corresponds to a reductio ...

across the economy as goods became more expensive to produce. The wealthy elites suffered under the sudden economic shift. Difficulties in hiring labour created frustration.

John Gower John Gower (; c. 1330 – October 1408) was an English poet, a contemporary of William Langland and the Pearl Poet, and a personal friend of Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer (; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civ ...

commented on post-plague labourers: "they are sluggish, they are scarce, and they are grasping. For the very little they do they demand the highest pay." On the other hand, while some workers suffered from increasing prices, others benefited from the higher wages they could command during this period of labour shortage. The law was issued by King

Edward III of England Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring ro ...

on 18 June 1349.

The law

The ordinance required several things, including: * Everyone under 60 must work. * Employers must not hire excess workers. * Employers may not pay and workers may not receive wages higher than pre-plague levels. * Food must be priced reasonably with no excess profit. * No one, under the pain of imprisonment, was to give any thing to able-bodied beggars 'under the colour of pity or alms'.

Aftermath and repeal

The ordinance has largely been seen as ineffective. Despite the

English parliament The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England from the 13th century until 1707 when it was replaced by the Parliament of Great Britain. Parliament evolved from the great council of bishops and peers that advised ...

's attempt to reinforce the ordinance with the

Statute of Labourers The Statute of Labourers was a law created by the English parliament under King Edward III in 1351 in response to a labour shortage, which aimed at regulating the labour force by prohibiting requesting or offering a wage higher than pre-Plague st ...

of 1351, workers continued to command higher wages and the majority of England (those in the labouring class) enjoyed a century of relative prosperity before the ratio of labour to land restored the pre-plague levels of wages and prices. While the economic situation eventually reverted, the plague radically altered the social structure of English society. It was later repealed by the

Statute Law Revision Act 1863 The Statute Law Revision Act 1863 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was intended, in particular, to facilitate the preparation of a revised edition of the statutes. The enactments which were repealed (whether for the whol ...

and the

Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 The Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict c 98) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which repealed, as to Ireland, certain Acts of the Parliament of England which had been extended to the then Lordship of Ireland by ...

References

External links

Complete text of the Ordinance of Labourers, 1349, from Sources of British History

from

Fordham University Fordham University () is a Private university, private Jesuit universities, Jesuit research university in New York City. Established in 1841 and named after the Fordham, Bronx, Fordham neighborhood of the The Bronx, Bronx in which its origina ...

{{UK legislation 1349 in England 1340s in law Economy of medieval England History of labour law Medieval English law Price controls United Kingdom labour law Edward III of England Regulation in the United Kingdom