Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 821 - 50: Cabinet Meeting

Aili understood her mistake and stopped using her authority to influence the workers at the shipyard. Soon, their work efficiency began to decline.

Moreover, the workers' emotions were not as high as before, and their work enthusiasm had evidently decreased.

Clearly, the success and feedback of the new policy at the shipyard were closely related to Aili's powers.

Perfikot ordered the collection of a large amount of information and actual worker feedback, then brought these data, along with Aili, to the cabinet meeting once again.

This was Aili's first time at the cabinet, witnessing how the power center of the Victor Empire truly operated.

Although she previously had a good relationship with many high-ranking officials, and even a deep friendship with Kallen, it was evident that Kallen could not bring Aili into the cabinet.

After all, this was the highest power center of the Victor Empire. Even if Kallen was the Deputy Prime Minister, she could only take Aili to her office, but not allow her into cabinet meetings.

However, while Kallen couldn't do it, Perfikot could.

For this Empire Regent, there was nothing in the Victor Empire that she couldn't do, only things she didn't wish to do.

Even for a serious cabinet meeting, Perfikot could bring someone to sit in and listen.

From this alone, Aili fully felt Perfikot's authority, which made her regret why she hadn't investigated more thoroughly.

During this period, she also learned more information, such as the gap between the immigrants from Langton and the Northern Territory, as well as the subtle differences in their attitudes toward Perfikot.

These subtle differences might be imperceptible to others, but since Aili's powers could influence a person's mood, she naturally could sense even finer details.

The significant discrepancy before was mainly because the people she encountered were telling her deeply held beliefs, which affected Aili's judgments.

She hadn't thought that someone could deceive even themselves.

Now, she sat behind the Empire Regent, listening to the meeting between her and the Empire's cabinet.

"This is my investigation report on the policies issued by the cabinet earlier. You should all take a look. Although some issues aren't severe yet, their consequences have already manifested. I hope the cabinet will take them seriously." Perfikot didn't say much, just handed her investigation report to the cabinet members for them to pass around.

After passing it around, the members' faces showed some changes.

Some took it seriously because the matter led Perfikot to convene a cabinet meeting.

But some didn't care much, feeling it was just some workers' complaints, with little impact on the state.

Though workers' voices are increasingly valued by the state, a few complaints haven't yet reached the level of influencing state policies.

Even the representative of the Workers' Federation was merely discussing why such a result had occurred, not considering the matter very serious.

But since Perfikot had spoken, the cabinet naturally needed to take a stance on the matter.

The one who proposed the policy, Kallen, was the first to speak: "From the feedback collected by the Regent, the workers indeed feel dissatisfied with the long working hours.

However, the production efficiency improvement brought by long working hours is real. If adjustments to the policy are to be made, I think we should still find a balance between the two."

These words make sense, but they're essentially useless talk that doesn't solve any problems.

That Kallen could say such things, Perfikot didn't think she was incompetent or neglectful; instead, she felt Kallen had matured quite a bit.

Because for a qualified politician, especially one with a position as cabinet Deputy Prime Minister, this way of speaking is necessary at many times.

Just like now, she spoke in such a way that gave others room to discuss rather than setting a tone for the issue immediately.

With Kallen's opening, others followed suit, saying: "I think we can appropriately shorten the working hours by two hours. Previously, the ten-hour work duration was relatively reasonable; workers could accomplish enough work without becoming overly fatigued."

This was the conservative perspective, believing the previous policy was good, with no need to change to a new one.

But then the radicals said: "The workers are just not used to it; there used to be sixteen-hour work shifts. Though they complained, they still completed their tasks.

The adjustment to ten-hour work shifts primarily aimed at avoiding safety accidents due to overly long working hours, but twelve hours don't fall under this!

The Northern Territory has just experienced a snowstorm; we need to increase production efforts to restore the economy, which is our current focus!

The workers should just consider their hardships as contributions to the country; they can't only enjoy the benefits the state provides without paying any price!"

Listening to this, Aili frowned repeatedly; she could feel that what the other party said was merely a ridiculous excuse, with disdain filling their internal thoughts.

But Aili was only there to listen, and Perfikot hadn't let her speak.

Nevertheless, she visibly puffed her cheeks, expressing her dissatisfaction like a rounded pufferfish.

"The workers are indeed very tired, and we can empathize. After all, a continuous twelve-hour work shift would cause pain, even if one were just sitting in an office, let alone engaging in intensive labor." Someone with a different opinion proposed a new suggestion: "But the state can't abandon the productivity gains brought by a two-shift system; I think we can change it to a three-shift system.

In this way, the workers' work hours would be reduced to eight hours, with three shifts rotating, ensuring both productivity and worker enthusiasm."

Speaking of which, the individual looked at Perfikot before continuing: "This is a policy that the Regent has used before, and I think we can bring it out and promote it across the Northern Territory."

Because this suggestion involved Perfikot, many seriously discussed its feasibility.

This opened Aili's eyes, having never seen a situation where someone who hadn't said a word still managed the discussions and topics unfurled around her.

"Speaking of which, what's your view on this matter? Are the workers' working hours really too long?" Aili curiously leaned towards Perfikot, asking her softly.

Perfikot looked at Aili for a moment, then said: "A daily work shift of eight to ten hours is a relatively reasonable schedule; once it exceeds twelve hours, various problems arise.

But let's observe what they have to say first."