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ACTS REGULATING LABOR.

No. 58.]
AN ACT
To provide for and regulate labor contracts for Agricultural pursuits.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana, in General Assembly convened, That all persons engaged as laborers in agricultural pursuits shall be required, within the first ten days of the month of January of each year, to make contracts for labor for the then ensuing year, or for the year next ensuing the termination of their present contract. All contracts for labor for agricultural purposes shall be made in writing, signed by the employer, and shall be made in the presence of a Justice of the Peace and two disinterested witnesses, in whose presence the contract shall be read to the laborers, and, when assented to and signed by the latter, shall be considered as binding for the time prescribed.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, etc., Every laborer shall have full and perfect liberty to choose his employer, but, when once chosen, he shall not be allowed to leave his place of employment until the fulfillment of his contract, unless by consent of his employer, or on account of harsh treatment, or breach of contract on the part of the employer; and if they do so leave, without cause or permission, they shall forfeit all wages earned to the time of abandonment.

SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, etc., The labor contract provided for above, shall be deposited with the Recorder of the Parish in which the parties thereto reside, and shall have the force and effect of an authentic act, and be conclusive evidence of the intent of the parties thereto; but all disputes arising between the parties shall be decided before a Justice of the Peace of the district or ward in which the parties reside, and said Justice of the Peace shall be authorized to enforce these labor contracts.