Order No. 18 of the Central Executive Committee of the Provisional Central Government
(April 14, 1933)

At a time of bitter struggle in the current civil war, the staff members of the Soviet government have not been paid wages commensurate with their individual labor, and their families have received no economic assistance. This spirit of hardship and sacrifice on the part of the Soviet staff members is praiseworthy.

However, the situation in various localities tells us: There are many poor peasant and worker elements who are active and capable in work, but because they are the principal laborers in their household production and are bound by household labor, they cannot come to work in the government. As a result, in some places the government lacks such good staff members, and instead selects for government work some people who are not very active and lack ability, for the sole reason that such people are not the principal laborers in their household production and are not bound by household labor. Thus, the criterion for selecting people departs from activism toward the revolution and capability in work, and is based merely on their being idle at home. This phenomenon is impermissible. There is an even more impermissible phenomenon: in some places, when elections are held, good elements, burdened by family livelihood, are unwilling to be elected, whereupon bad elements come forward. Rich peasants and riffraff, for such reasons, worm their way into Soviet organs, and this exists in some places. As for those with good class status, who are active toward the revolution and capable in work, they assume government work, but because the problem of household labor cannot be resolved, they cannot properly and with peace of mind devote themselves to the work. This situation is even more widespread (especially at the district and township levels).

In light of the above circumstances, and in order to make the Soviet government an active and capable government that can lead the broad masses in the environment of bitter struggle to win victory for the revolution, the Central Executive Committee hereby resolves: During their term of service, if the families of staff members of Soviet governments at all levels truly have no labor power or have insufficient labor power, it shall, after investigation and verification, be arranged for the local government to mobilize the masses to cultivate the land on their behalf or assist them in cultivation (those families with sufficient labor power are not covered by this provision), so that their family livelihood, compared to when they themselves were laboring at home, does not suffer deficiency, this being the limit. The practical measures here may apply Article 4 of the Regulations on Preferential Treatment for the Red Army (for those with no labor power, send people to assist with all work of plowing, sowing, irrigation, and harvesting; for those lacking labor power, provide subsidies according to their needs). This can enable such personnel to set aside family worries and work in the government with peace of mind. By using this method as assistance, we can absorb in large numbers into the Soviet governments at all levels those elements with good class status, who are active toward the revolution and capable in work, and strengthen the working capacity of the Soviet government. This order is hereby issued, and it is expected that governments at all levels shall comply and implement it. This order.

Chairman Mao Zedong

Vice Chairmen Xiang Ying, Zhang Guotao

April 14, 1933