Catullus Industrius makes one more reformist move: Child Labour Banned

URBS PULCHER, 7-10-2021

For years now, Catullus Industrius has resisted any further attempts at reforming his hard-line regime. After restoring basic judiciary rule and ending curfew and repealing some of the most excessive oppressive laws in Folenz, Catullus has held the line ever since. It has already led to increased dissatisfaction outside, and within the Party and it has raised the question of how long Catullus would be able to hold on to power. For now however, it seems that Catullus still has room to manoeuver. Today, Industrius has passed a decree which outlawed all forms of Child Labour until 12 years, for all children, to be in effect by two months from now. The decree also compells these children to then go to school immediately, though he does not make any extra provisions to cover up for lost years of schooling for these children (or, indeed, psychological help).
This was the wish of nearly all Party members and citizens of Folenz: to get rid of this harsh law that has been part of the reality under Catullus Industrius from the very early start. It was a reform that was part of the early proposals put forward by other high Party members, and it was the one reform Catullus just did not seem to get round to.
About 25% of children aged 12 are employed in factories or elsewhere. For 9-year olds the number is 10-12% (which is still a lot). For 7 year olds, the number is somewhere at 4%.

With this decree, most of the wishes of the Proposals have come true. Now the question is whether more will follow. There is a call for more reforms, particularly on the social domain, the emigration ban and on autarky (these calls are of course anonymous for expressing these views still can end in harsh punishments). Some party members would like still more change, and secretly wish for improved civil rights and more political freedom and a general retreat of the government from citizens' private affairs. However, this does not seem to be happening any soon. As it stands today, Folenz remains a starkly totalitarian state full of intimidation and oppression. One positive thing: the economy has never done better in the country. Folenz's economy is booming, in spite of the absence of international trade. At the same time, equality has reached very high levels. Folenz's poor are some of the best-off in the world.