statute of Labourers

Labourers, statute of, 1351. The statute was an early attempt at a wage freeze, rarely a popular policy. The scourge of the Black Death led to an acute shortage of labour. When Parliament met in 1351 there were complaints that ‘out of singular covetise’ wages had risen, and the statute (25 Edw. III s. 1) was passed. Men were to work at pre-1349 wage levels, and masters were forbidden to offer more. Persons below the age of 60 not in employment were not to refuse offers of work. Resentment played a part in the grievances leading to the Peasants' Revolt in 1381.