# The Labor Laws of Soviet Russia/Labor Laws of Soviet Russia

THE LABOR LAWS OF SOVIET RUSSIA
I. The Code of Labor Laws shall take effect from the moment of its publication in the Compilation of Laws and Regulations of the Workmen's and Peasants' Government. This Code must be extensively circulated among the working class of the country by all the local organs of the Soviet Government and be posted in a conspicuous place in all Soviet Institutions.
II. The regulations of the Code of Labor Laws shall apply to all persons receiving remuneration for their work and shall be obligatory for all enterprises, institutions and establishments (Soviet, public, private and domestic), as well as for all private employers exploiting labor.
III. All existing regulations of a general character and those hereafter to be issued in relation to labor, (orders of individual establishments, instructions, rules of internal management, etc.), as well as individual contracts and agreements, shall be valid only in so far as they do not conflict with this Code.
IV. All labor agreements previously entered into, as well as all those which will be entered into in the future, in so far as they contradict the regulations of this Code, shall not be considered valid or obligatory, either for the employees or for the employers.
​V. In enterprises and establishments where the work is carried on in the form of organized cooperation (Section 6, Division (a) of the present Labor-Code) the wage earners must be allowed the widest possible self-government under the supervision of the Central Soviet authorities. On this basis alone can the working masses be successfully educated in the spirit of socialist and communal government.
VI. The labor conditions in the communal enterprises organized as well as supported by the Soviet institutions (agricultural and other communes) are regulated by special rules of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and of the Council of People's Commissars, and by instructions of the People's Commissariats of Agriculture and Labor.
The labor conditions of farmers on land assigned them for cultivation are regulated by the Code of Rural Laws.
The labor conditions of independent artisans are regulated by special rules of the Commissariat of Labor.
ARTICLE I
On Compulsory Labor
1. All citizens of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, with the exception stated in sections 2 and 3, shall be subject to compulsory labor.
2. The following persons shall be exempt from compulsory labor:
    (a) Persons under 16 years of age;
    (b) All persons over 50 years;
    (c) Persons who have become incapacitated by injury or illness.
3. Temporarily exempt from compulsory labor are:
    (a) Persons who are temporarily incapacitated owing to illness or injury, for a period necessary for their recovery;
    (b) Women, for a period of 8 weeks before and 8
weeks after confinement.
4. All students shall be subject to compulsory labor at the schools.
5. The fact of permanent or temporary disability shall be certified after a medical examination by the Bureau of Medical Survey in the city, district or province, by the accident insurance office or its agencies, according to the place of residence of the person whose disability is to be certified.
Note I. Rules for the examination of disabled workmen are appended hereto.
Note II. Persons subject to compulsory labor but not engaged in useful public work may be summoned by the local Soviets for the execution of public work, on conditions determined by the Department of Labor in agreement with the local Soviets of trade unions.
6. Labor may be performed in the form of—
    (a) Organized cooperation;
    (bl Individual personal services;
    (c) Individual special jobs.
​7. Labor conditions in Government (Soviet) establishments shall be regulated by tariff rules approved by the Central Soviet authorities through the People's Commissariat of Labor.
8. Labor conditions in all establishments (Soviet, nationalized, public and private) shall be regulated by tariff rules drafted by the trade unions, in agreement with the directors or owners of establishments and enterprises, and approved by the People's Commissariat of Labor.
Note. In cases where it is impossible to arrive at an understanding with the directors or owners of establishments or enterprises, the tariff rules shall be drawn up by the trade unions and submitted for approval to the Peaple's Commissariat of Labor.
9. Labor in the form of individual personal service or in the form of individual special jobs shall be regulated by tariff rules drafted by the respective trade unions and approved by the People's Commissariat of Labor.
ARTICLE II
The Right to Work
10. All citizens able to work have the right to employment at their vocations and for remuneration fixed for such class of work.
Note. The District Exchange Bureaus of the Department of Labor Distribution may, by agreement with the respective unions, assign individual wage earners or groups of them to work at other trades if there is no demand for labor at the vocations of the persons in question.
11. The right to work belongs first of all to those who are subject to compulsory labor.
12. Of the classes exempt from compulsory labor, only those mentioned in subdivision "b" of section 2 shall have the right to work.
13. Those mentioned in subdivisions "a" and "c" of section 2 shall absolutely have no right to work, and those mentioned in section 3 shall temporarily have no right to work.
14. All persons of the female sex, and those of the male sex under 18 years of ago, shall have no right to work during night time or in those branches of industry where the conditions of labor are especially hard or dangerous.
Note. A list of especially hard and health-endangering occupations shall be prepared by he Department of Labor Protection of the People's Commissariat of Labor, and shall be published in the month of January of each year in the Compilation of Laws and Regulations of the Workmen's and Peasants' Government.
ARTICLE III
Methods of Labor Distribution
15. The enforcement of the right to work shall be secured through the Department of Labor Distribution, through trade unions, and through all the institutions of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic.
16. The assignment of wage earners to work shall be effected through the Departments of Labor Distribution.
17. A wage earner may be summoned to work, save by the Departments of Labor Distribution, only when chosen for a position by a Soviet institution or enterprise.
18. Vacancies may be filled by election when the work offered requires political reliability or unusual special knowledge, for which the person elected is noted.
19. Persons engaged for work by election must register with the Department of Labor Distribution before they are accepted, but they shall not be subject to the rules concerning probation which are set forth in Article IV of the present Code.
20. Unemployed persons shall be assigned to work through the Departments of Labor Distribution in the manner stated in sections 21–30.
21. A wage earner who is not engaged in work at his vocation shall register with the local Department of Labor Distribution as unemployed.
22. Establishments and individuals in need of workers shall apply to the local Department of Labor Distribution or its division (Correspondence Bureau) stating the condition of the work offered as well as the requirements which the workmen must meet (trade, knowledge, experience).
23. The Department of Labor Distribution, on receipt of the application mentioned in section 22, shall assign the persons meeting the requirements thereof in the order determined by the same.
24. An unemployed person has no right to refuse an offer to work at his vocation, provided the working conditions conform with the standards fixed by the respective ​tariff regulations, or in the absence of the same by the trade unions.
25. A wage worker assigned to work for a period of not more than two weeks, shall be considered unemployed, and shall not lose his place on the list of the Department of Labor Distribution.
26. Should the local Department of Labor Distribution have no workers on its lists meeting the stated requirements, the application shall be immediately sent to the District Exchange Bureau, and the establishment or individual offering the employment shall be simultaneously notified to this effect.
27. Whenever workers are required for work outside of their district, a roll-call of the unemployed registered with the Department of Labor Distribution shall take place, to ascertain who are willing to go; if a sufficient number of such should not be found, the Department of Labor Distribution shall assign the lacking number from among the unemployed in the order of their registration, provided that those who have dependents must not be given preference before single persons.
28. If in the Departments of Labor Distribution, within the limits of the district, there be no workmen meeting the requirements, the District Exchange Bureau has the right, upon agreement with the respective trade union, to send unemployed from another class approaching as nearly as possible the trade required.
29. An unemployed person who is offered work outside his vocation shall be obliged to accept it, with the understanding, if he so desires that this be only temporary, until he receives work at his vocation.
30. A wage earner who is working outside his vocation, and who has expressed the desire that this be only temporary, shall retain his place on the register of the Department of Labor Distribution until he secures work at his vocation.
31. Private individuals violating the rules of labor distribution set forth in this article shall be punished, by order of the local board of the Department of Labor Distribution, by a fine of not less than 300 rubles or by arrest for not less than one week. Soviet establishments and officials violating these rules of labor distribution shall be liable to criminal prosecution.
ARTICLE IV
Probation Period
32. Final acceptance of workers for permanent employment shall be preceded by a period of probation of not more than six days; in Soviet institutions the probation period shall be two weeks for unskilled and less responsible work and one month for skilled and responsible work.
33. According to the results of the probation the wage earner shall either be given a permanent appointment, or rejected with payment for the period of probation in accordance with the tariff rates.
34. The results of the probation (acceptance or rejection) shall be communicated to the Department of Labor Distribution.
35. Up to the expiration of the probation period, the wage earner shall be considered as unemployed, and shall retain his place on the eligible list of the Department of Labor Distribution.
36. A person who, after probation, has been rejected, may appeal from this decision to the union of which he is a member.
37. If the trade union deems the appeal mentioned in the preceding section justified, it shall enter into negotiations with the establishment or person who has rejected the wage earner, with the request that the complainant be accepted.
38. In case of failure of the negotiations mentioned in section 37, the matter shall be submitted to the local Department of Labor, whose decision shall be final and subject to no further appeal.
39. The Department of Labor may demand that the person or establishment who have without sufficient reason rejected a wage earner provide the latter with work. Furthermore, it may demand that the said person or establishment compensate the wage earner according to the tariff rates for the time lost between his rejection and final acceptance pursuant to the decision of the Department of Labor.
ARTICLE V
Transfer and Discharge of Wage Earners
40. Transfer of wage earners in all enterprises, establishments, or institutions employing paid labor is allowed only if required in the interest of the business and by the decision of the proper organ of management.
Note. This rule does not apply to work with private individuals employing paid labor, if the work is of the character mentioned in subdivisions "b" and "c" of Section 6.
41. The transfer of a wage earner to other work within the enterprise, establishment or institution where he is employed may be ordered by the management of said enterprise, establishment or institution.
42. The transfer of a wage earner to another enterprise, establishment or institution situated in the same or in another locality, may be ordered by the corresponding organ of management with the consent of the Department of Labor Distribution.
43. The order of the management for the transfer of a wage earner in accordance with Section 40 may be appealed from to the proper Department of Labor (local or district) by the interested individuals or organizations.
44. The decision of the Department of Labor in the matter of the transfer of a wage earner may be appealed from by the interested parties to the District Department of Labor or to the People's Commissariat of Labor, whose decision in the matter in dispute is final and not subject to further appeal.
45. In case of urgent public work the District Department of Labor may, in agreement with the respective trade unions and with the approval of the People's Commissariat of Labor, order the transfer of a whole group of wage earners from the organization where they are employed to another situated in the same or in a different locality, provided a sufficient number of volunteers for such work cannot be found.
​46. The discharge of wage earners from an enterprise, establishment or institution where they have been employed is permissible in the following cases:
(a) In case of complete or partial liquidation of the enterprise, establishment or institution, or of cancellation of specific orders or work;
(b) In case of suspension of work for more than a month;
(c) Upon the expiration of the term of employment or the completion of the job, if the work was of a temporary character;
(d) In case of evident unfitness for work, by special decision of the management and subject to agreement with the respective trade unions;
(e) By request of the wage earner.
47. The management of the enterprise, establishment or institution where a wage earner is employed, or the person for whom a wage earner is working must give the wage earner two weeks' notice of the proposed discharge, for the reasons stated in subdivisions "a", "b" and "d" of section 46, notifying simultaneously the local Department of Labor Distribution.
48. A wage earner discharged for the reasons stated in subdivisions "a", "b" and "d" of Section 46 shall be considered unemployed and entered as such on the lists of the Department of Labor Distribution and shall continue to perform his work until the expiration of the term of two weeks mentioned in the preceding section.
49. The order to discharge an employee for the reasons stated in subdivisions "a", "b" and "d" of Section 46 may be appealed from by the interested persons to the Local Department of Labor.
50. The decision of the Local Department of Labor in the matter of discharge may be appealed from by either party to the District Department of Labor, whose decision on the question in dispute is final and not subject to further appeal.
51. Discharge by request of the wage earner from an enterprise, establishment or institution must be preceded by an examination of the reasons for the resignation by the respective organ of workmen's self-government (works and other committees).
​Note. This rule does not apply to the resignation of a wage earner employed by an individual, if the work is of the character mentioned in subdivisions "b" and "c" of Section 6.
52. If the organ of workers' self-government (works or other committee) after investigating the reasons for the resignation finds the same unjustified the wage earner must remain at work, but may appeal from the decision of the committee to the proper trade union.
53. A wage earner who quits work contrary to the decision of the Committee made pursuant to Section 52, shall forfeit for one week the right to register with the Department of Labor Distribution.
54. Institutions and persons employing paid labor shall, whenever a wage earner quits work, inform thereof the Local Department of Labor Distribution and the trade union of which the wage earner is a member, stating the date and the reason thereof.
ARTICLE VI
Remuneration of Labor
55. The remuneration of wage earners for work in enterprises, establishments and institutions employing paid labor, and the particular conditions and manner of payment shall be fixed by tariffs worked out for each kind of labor in the manner described in Sections 7–9 of the present Code.
56. All institutions working out the tariff rates must comply with the provisions of this article of the Code of Labor Laws.
57. For the purpose of fixing the tariff rates and determining the standard rates of remuneration, all the wage earners of a trade shall be divided into groups and categories and a definite standard of remuneration shall be fixed for each of them.
58. The standard of remuneration fixed by the tariff rates must be at least sufficient to provide for the minimum living expenses as determined by the People’s Commissariat of Labor for each district of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic and published in the Compilation of Laws Regulations of the Workmen's and Peasants' Government.
59. In determining the standard of remuneration for each group and category attention shall be given to the kind of labor, the danger of the conditions under which the work is performed, the complexity and accuracy of the work, the degree of independence and responsibility as well as the standard of education and experience required for the performance of the work.
60. The remuneration of each wage earner shall be determined by his classification in a definite group and category.
61. The classification of wage earners into groups and categories within each branch of labor shall be done by special valuation commissions, local and central, established by the respective trade unions.
​Note. The procedure of the valuation commissions shall be determined by the People's Commissariat of Labor.
62. The tariff regulations shall fix the standard of remuneration for a normal working day or for piece work, and particularly the remuneration for overtime work.
63. Remuneration for piecework shall be computed by dividing the daily tariff rate by the number of pieces constituting the production standard.
64. The standard of remuneration fixed for overtime work shall not exceed time and a half of the normal remuneration.
65. Excepting the remuneration paid for overtime work done in the same or in a different branch of labor, no additional remuneration in excess of the standard fixed for a given group and category shall be permitted, irrespective of the pretext and form under which it might be offered and whether it be paid in only one or in several places of employment.
66. Persons working in several places must state in which place of employment they desire to receive their pay.
67. Any person receiving excessive remuneration, in violation of Section 65, shall be liable to criminal prosecution for fraud, and the remuneration received in excess of the standard may be deducted from subsequent payments to such person.
68. From the remuneration of the wage earner may be deducted the excess remuneration received in violation of Section 65, and the remuneration earned by the wage earner during his vacation; deduction may also be made for cessation of work.
69. No other deductions, except those mentioned in Section 68, shall be permitted, irrespective of the form or pretext under which they might be made.
70. Payment of remuneration must not be made in advance.
71. If the work is permanent, payment for the same must be made periodically, at least once in every fortnight. Remuneration for temporary work and for special jobs, provided the same continue at least for two weeks, shall be paid immediately after the work has been completed.
​72. Payments shall be made in money or in kind (lodgings, food supplies, etc.).
73. To make payments in kind special permission must be obtained from the Local Department of Labor which shall determine the rates jointly with the respective trade unions.
Note. The rates thus determined must be based on the standard prices fixed by the respective institutions of the Soviet authority (valuation commissions of the Commissariat of Victuals, Land and Housing Department, Price Committee, etc.).
74. Payments must be made during working hours.
75. Payments must be made at the place of work.
76. The wage earner shall be paid only for actual work done. If a cessation of work is caused during the working day by circumstances beyond the control of the wage earner (through accident or through the fault of the administration), he shall be paid for the time lost, on the basis of the daily tariff rates, if he be employed on time work, or on the basis of his average daily earnings if he be employed on piece work.
77. A wage earner shall be paid his wage during leave of absence (Sections 106–107).
78. During illness of a wage earner the remuneration due him shall be paid as a subsidy from the hospital fund.
Note. The manner of payment of the subsidy is fixed by rules appended hereto.
79. Unemployed shall receive a subsidy out of the fund for unemployed.
Note. Rules concerning unemployed and the payment of subsidies to them are appended hereto.
80. Every wage earner must have a labor booklet in which all matters pertaining to the work done by him, as well as the payments and subsidies received by him are to be entered.
Note. Rules regarding labor booklets for wage earners are appended hereto.
ARTICLE VII
Working Hours
81. Working hours shall be regulated by rules made for each kind of labor, in the manner described in Sections 7–9 of the Present Code.
82. The rules relating to working hours must conform with the provisions of this article of the Code of Labor Laws.
83. A normal working day shall mean the time fixed by the tariff regulations for the production of a certain amount of work.
84. The duration of a normal working day must in no case exceed eight hours for day work and seven hours for night work.
85. The duration of a normal day must not exceed six hours: (a) for persons under 18 years of age, and (b) in especially hard or health-endangering branches of industry (note to Section 14 of the present Code).
86. During the normal working day time must be allowed for meals and for rest.
87. During recess machines, beltings and lathes must be stopped, unless this be impossible owing to technical conditions or in cases where these machines, beltings, etc., serve for ventilations, drainage, lighting, etc.
88. The time of recess fixed by Section 86 is not included in the working hours.
89. The recess must take place not later than four hours after the beginning of the working day, and must continue not less than a half hour and not more than two hours.
Note. Additional intermissions every three hours, and for not less than a half hour, must be allowed for working women who are nursing children.
90. The wage earners may use their free time at their own discretion. They shall be allowed during recess to leave the place of work.
​91. In case the nature of the work requires a working day in excess of the normal, two or more shifts shall be engaged.
92. Where there are several shifts, each shift shall work the normal working hours; the change of shifts must take place during the time fixed by the rules of the internal management without interfering with the normal course of work.
93. As a general rule, work in excess of the normal hours (overtime work) shall not be permitted.
94. Overtime work may be permitted in the following exceptional cases:
(a) Where the work is necessary for the prevention of a public calamity or in case the existence of the Soviet Government of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic or human life is endangered;
(b) In emergency public work connected with water supply, lighting, sewerage or transportation, in case of accident or extraordinary interruption of their regular operation;
(c) When work has to be completed which owing to unforeseen or accidental delay due to technical conditions of production could not be completed during the normal working hours, if leaving the work unfinished would cause damage to materials or machinery;
(d) On repairs or renewal of machine parts or construction work, wherever necessary to prevent stoppage of work by a considerable number of wage earners.
95. In the case described in subdivision "c" of Section 94, overtime work is permissible only with the consent of the respective trade union.
96. For overtime work described in subdivision "d" of Section 94 permission must be obtained from the local labor inspection, in addition to the permit mentioned in the preceding section.
97. No females and no males under 18 years of age may do any overtime work.
98. The time spent on overtime work in the course of two consecutive days must not exceed 4 hours.
​99. No overtime work shall be permitted to make up for a wage earner's tardiness in reporting at his place of work.
100. All overtime work done by a wage earner, as well as the remuneration received by him for the same, must be recorded in his labor booklet.
101. The total number of days on which overtime may be permitted in any enterprise, establishment or institution must not exceed 50 days per annum, including such days when even one wage earner worked overtime.
102. Every enterprise, establishment or institution must keep a special record book for overtime work.
103. All wage earners must be allowed a weekly uninterrupted rest of not less than 42 hours.
104. No work shall be done on specially designated holidays.
Note. Rules concerning holidays and days of weekly rest are appended hereto.
105. On the eve of rest days the normal working day shall be reduced by two hours.
Note. This section shall not apply to institutions and enterprises where the working day does not exceed six hours.
106. Every wage earner who has worked without interruption not less than six months shall be entitled to leave of absence for two weeks, irrespective of whether he worked in only one or in several enterprises, establishments or institutions.
107. Every wage earner who has worked without interruption not less than a year shall be entitled to leave of absence for one month, irrespective of whether he worked in only one or in several enterprises, establishments or institutions.
Note. Sections 106 and 107 shall take effect beginning January 1, 1919.
108. Leave of absence may be granted during the whole year, provided that the same does not interfere with the normal course of work in the enterprise, establishment or institution.
​109. The time and order in which leave of absence may be granted shall be determined by agreement between the management of the enterprise, establishment or institution and proper self-government bodies of the wage earners (works and other committees).
110. A wage earner shall not be at liberty to work for remuneration during his leave of absence.
111. The remuneration of a wage earner earned his leave of absence shall be deducted from his regular wages.
112. The absence of a wage earner from work caused by special circumstances and permitted by the manager shall not be counted as leave of absence; the wage earner shall not be paid for the working hours lost in such cases.
ARTICLE VIII
Methods to Assure Efficiency of Labor
113. In order to assure efficiency of labor, every wage earner working in an enterprise, establishment or institution (governmental, public or private) employing labor in the form of organized cooperation, as well as the administration of the enterprise, establishment or institution, shall strictly observe the rules of this article of the Code relative to standards of efficiency, output and rules of internal management.
114. Every wage earner must during a normal working day and under normal working conditions perform the standard amount of work fixed for the category and group in which he is enrolled.
Note. Normal conditions referred to in this section, shall mean:
(a) Good condition of machines, lathes and accessories;
(b) Timely delivery of materials and tools necessary for the performance of the work;
(c) Good quality of materials and tools;
(d) Proper hygienic and sanitary equipment of the building where the work is performed (necessary lighting, heating, etc.).
115. The standard output for wage earners of each trade and of each group and category shall be fixed by valuation commissions of the respective trade unions (Section 62).
116. In determining the standard output the valuation commission shall take into consideration the quantity of products usually turned out in the course of a normal working day and under normal technical conditions by the wage earners of the particular trade, group and category.
117. The production standards of output adopted by the valuation commission must be approved by the proper Department of Labor jointly with the Council of National Economy.
​118. A wage earner systematically producing less than the fixed standard may be transferred by decision of the proper valuation commission to other work in the same group and category, or to a lower group or category, with a corresponding reduction of wages.
Note. The wage earner may appeal from the decision to transfer him to a lower group or category with a reduction of wages, to the local Department of Labor and from the decision of the latter to the District Department of Labor, whose decision shall be final and not subject to further appeal.
119. If a wage earner's failure to maintain the standard output be due to lack of good faith and to negligence on his part, he may be discharged in the manner set forth in subdivision "d" of Section 46 without the two weeks' notice prescribed by Section 47.
120. The Supreme Council of National Economy jointly with the People's Commissariat of Labor may direct a general increase or decrease of the standards of efficiency and output for all wage earners and for all enterprises, establishments and institutions of a given district.
121. In addition to the regulations of the present article relative to standards of efficiency and output in enterprises, establishments and institutions, efficiency of labor shall be secured by rules of internal management.
122. The rules of internal management in Soviet institutions shall be made by the organs of Soviet authority with the approval of the People's Commissariat of Labor or its local departments.
123. The rules of internal management in industrial enterprises and establishments (Soviet, nationalized, private and public) shall be made by the trade unions and certified by the proper Departments of Labor.
124. The rules of internal management must include clear, precise and, as far as possible, exhaustive directions in relation to—
(a) The general obligations of all wage earners (careful handling of all materials and tools, compliance with instructions of the managers regarding performance of work, observance of the fixed standard of working hours, etc.);
​(b) The special duties of the wage earners of the particular branch of industry (careful handling of the fire in enterprises using inflammable materials, observance of special cleanliness in enterprises producing food products, etc.);
(c) The limits and manner of liability for breach of the duties mentioned above in subdivisions "a" and "b".
125. The enforcement of the rules of internal management in Soviet institutions is entrusted to the responsible managers.
126. The enforcement of the rules of internal management in industrial enterprises and establishments (Soviet, nationalized, public or private) is entrusted to the self-government bodies of the wage earners (works or similar committees).
ARTICLE IX
Protection of Labor
127. Protection of the life, health and labor of persons engaged in any economic activity is entrusted to the labor inspection, the technical inspectors and the representatives of sanitary inspection.
128. The labor inspection is under the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariat of Labor and its local branches (Departments of Labor) and is composed of elected labor inspectors.
129. Labor inspectors shall be elected by the Councils of Trade Unions.
Note I. The manner of election of labor inspectors shall be determined by the People's Commissariat of Labor.
Note II. In districts where there is no Council of Trade Unions, the Local Department of Labor shall summon a conference of representatives of the trade unions which shall elect the labor inspectors.
130. In performing the duties imposed upon them concerning the protection of the lives and health of wage earners the officers of labor inspection shall enforce the regulations of the present Code, and the decrees, instructions, orders and other acts of the Soviet authority intended to safeguard the lives and health of the workers.
131. For the attainment of the purposes stated in Section 130 the officers of labor inspection are authorized—
(a) To visit at any time of the day or night all the industrial enterprises of their districts and all places where work is carried on, as well as the buildings provided for the workmen by the enterprise (rooming houses, hospitals, asylums, baths, etc.);
(b) To require the managers of enterprises or establishments, as well as the elective officials of the wage earners (works and similar committees) of those enterprises or establishments in the management of ​which they are participating, to produce all necessary books, records and information;
(c) To draw to the work of inspection representatives of the elective organizations of employees, as well as officials of the administration (managers, superintendents, foremen, etc.);
(d) To bring before the criminal court all violators of the regulations of the present Code, or of the decrees, instructions, orders and other acts of the Soviet authority intended to safeguard the lives and health of the wage earners;
(e) To assist the trade unions and works committees in their efforts to ameliorate the labor conditions in individual enterprises as well as in entire branches of industry.
132. The officers of labor inspection are authorized to adopt special measures, in addition to the measures mentioned in the preceding section, for the removal of conditions endangering the lives and health of workmen, even if such measures have not been provided for by any particular law or regulation, instructions or order of the People's Commissariat of Labor or of the Local Department of Labor.
Note. Upon taking special measures to safeguard the lives and health of wage earners, as authorized by the present section, the officers of inspection shall immediately report thereof to the Local Department of Labor, which may either approve these measures or reject them.
133. The scope and the forms of activity of the organs of labor inspection shall be determined by instructions and orders issued by the People's Commissariat of Labor.
134. The enforcement of the instructions, rules and regulations relating to safety is entrusted to the technical inspectors.
135. The technical inspectors shall be appointed by the Local Departments of Labor from among engineering specialists; these inspectors shall perform within the territory under their jurisdiction the duties prescribed by Section 131 of the present Code.
​136. The technical inspectors shall he guided in their activity, besides the general regulations, by the instructions and orders of the People's Commissariat of Labor and by the instructions issued by the technical division of the Local Department of Labor.
137. The activity of the sanitary inspection shall be determined by instructions issued by the People's Commissariat of Health Protection jointly with the People's Commissariat of Labor.