Strong Arms Program
The Strong Arms Program is a part of a series of laws and diplomatic agreements, initiated by an exchange of diplomatic talks between the Vast Empire and New Republic, for the immigration of temporary laborers from the greater galaxy to Imperial worlds at the height of the Plague Wars.
The disruption and casualties of the biological warfare on civilian populations and the governments of affected planets were often greater than resources available were capable of handling. The Clone Wars-era Refugee Relief Movement had already been in action attempting to find new homes for war-torn populations, with it's subordinate Refugee Resettlement Coalition, working with groups like the Alderaan Alliance who had specialized in resettling migrant populations.
The Vast Empire - along with all other Imperial, New Republic, even Hutt factions - was contacted in 9 ABY and asked to participate in aiding the refugees in any way possible. The Imperial Council endorsed the policy of bringing in a certain amount of refugees to the newly claimed worlds of Lipsec, Ryoone, Sump and to dearly underpopulated ones like Bestine IV. These worlds had plenty of empty space, few resources, and were often far removed from the major conflict zones.
This was the basis of what has been called the Great Migration. As worlds came under threat of infection, millions and then billions fled their homes. Many worlds were grateful for anyone voluntarily removing themselves from what became dire situations. In many instances, riots, conflict, or drastic quarantine measures destroyed large portions of many residential districts. Other worlds considered those who left traitors who were no longer welcome back when, and if, things improved. Still other worlds took this opportunity to drive off dissidents or resident species they did not want. Either voluntarily, by necessity, by banishment, or at blaster point, billions of beings lost their homes.
The temporary camps and quickly erected towers of the Great Migration that were agreed to be established as temporary housing was now looking to be the long-term solution for those who had fled or been relocated from their former homes.
Contents
History[edit]
Prior to the Plague Wars, the Vast Empire was in a process of repatriating citizens to the planet of their choice when incorporating new planets it's sphere of influence. Many new worlds had signed with the faction or had signed non-aggression pacts that ensured neutrality and took steps to weed out New Republic propagandists, saboteurs, and agents.
This was often met with an equal number of new immigrants from other Imperial worlds or just people looking for a place to make a new start. The Vast Empire's position at the edge of the Outer Rim and Wild Space often made it a popular place for those who needed a blank slate.
Given a massive influx of refugees, some with varying degrees of sympathy or loyalty to the Imperial cause, the problem of what to do with the now homeless masses was very real and pressing. Their status in limbo and their prospects for a prosperous future dire, a process for dealing with the refugee communities was needed.
EM 1054f[edit]
Emergency Migration Order 1054, clause F was initiated near the end of 9 ABY, when the first influx of permanent refugees were being settled. It created a system of labor camps for building additional housing. In short, if you were able-bodied, already an Imperial citizen, and had some tradecraft, you were first in line for a work permit. Some seven million persons were able to mobilize to build housing that, in the main, was sturdier, more spacious, and designed for long term habitation, with schools, shopping, and resources for proper living. The 1054s, as they were called, moved into these communities as fast as they could put them up, creating a bit of resentment against those who remained in tent cities or the tall, flimsy, skyscrapers that crammed milllions of people together.
Senate Bill 439[edit]
Imperial Senate Bill 439 (ISB-439) was passed in 10 ABY and is the foundation of the current "Strong Arms" Program. While the men and women hired under Order 1054 were already Imperial citizens with trade skills to offer the Vast Empire; those who remained refugees did not have talents to immediately fit the needs of the Empire, not the compulsion to serve those who merely crammed them into hastily and poorly built camps.
With a need to continue building on new worlds for both citizens and refugees, and to provide the food and materiel needed for both civilian and military needs, the "Strong Arms" Program was designed to both fit the physical, financial, educational, and security needs of everyone under the protection of the Vast Empire.
Tiered Labor[edit]
In return for assignment to newer, better housing in planned communities, the first implementation of the program was - once again - geared towards Imperial citizens only. These refugees were placed into industrial jobs across the worlds of the Vast Empire, aiding in producing arms, uniforms, and spacecraft for the quickly expanding military. These employees would work for six months at these assigned duty stations and then rotate to their refugee worlds for two months before returning to another duty period. This was eventually designated Labor Tier One and was a prized assignment, though not one without danger.
Labor Tier Two was initially prompted by a demand for manual labor during the harvest seasons on Moorja and Kinyen and agricultural laborers were recruited for work in the fields. This was a quick three month assignment with no immediate improvement in living conditions for the laborer's families. The program soon spread to cover most of the Vast Empire's agricultural worlds and provided workers for the agricultural industry. As with Labor Tier One, special housing, schools, and facilities were constructed for agricultural workers, as well as a citizenship path for those who chose it. Labor Tier Two assignments are for six months on and three off for most worlds, though the growing seasons allow for some flexibility in the scheduling.
Additional unskilled and skilled labor is covered by Labor Tier Three. This included non-military industrial work, as well as mining and Corusforming projects on the refugee worlds. Each program is also contracted one nine months on/three months off schedules.
Labor Tier Four is relegated to providing the resources for the refugee worlds themselves. This covers all civilian government workers, peace officers, maintenance workers, teachers, medical personnel, commercial employees, and restaurant workers that reside on the Refugee Worlds. Professional skilled workers fell into this category as most are needed to work in place; though some have been delegated to duties off world. There are plans for either arcologies on the Resettlement Worlds or for mobile arxeums to harness the talent of the brightest of the refugee population.
The so-called Tier Five option came with the request for military volunteers among the refugee populations. This was considered a fast-track approach to citizenship and for earning points towards a resettlement posting. (See also Refugee Mobilization Act).
| Year | Number of Laborers | Applicable Imperial Law |
|---|---|---|
| 9 ABY | 7,236,000 (approx.) | Emergency Migration Order 1054f |
| 10 ABY | 13,523,419 | Imperial Law ISB-439 |
| 11 ABY | 332,781,851 | Imperial Law ISB-439 |
| 12 ABY | 228,539,214 | Imperial Law ISB-439 |
Citizen Resettlement Act[edit]
A key part of the Strong Arms Program was a push to earn citizenship for the refugee population. Participation in a labor contract was a significant way to earn Status Points and thus earn both improved living conditions as well as a slot on the citizenship testing rolls.
Another benefit of citizenship was the potential to be selected as a settler to one of the new colony worlds. These are worlds that came into the control of the Vast Empire with good amounts of resources, stable climates, and are very sparsely settled. Life on these new worlds will be difficult for many years as everything must be built from the ground up, but many have taken the challenge.
Controversy[edit]
Critics of the program come from all walks of life. Some refugees criticize the system that demand they work for the assistance rendered them. To a point these are legitimate concerns. Most of their homeworlds will not take them back, and those that will are still under some form of duress. That said, the Vast Empire has been clear from the beginning that settlement would come at the expense of the sweat of one's brow. Barring the first few hundred transports, every ship landing after the passage of Emergency Migration Order 1054 had to ensure that every passenger offloaded signed a Refugee Disembarkation Agreement that stipulated the conditions of living on a refugee world. Anyone who continues to vocally take issue with their agreement are often dumped on a neutral world. Hoth is a nearby popular destination for dissenters in recent years.
Vast Empire citizens who are not automatically railing against the species represented by the refugee communities are often concerned about both the falling prices afforded labor and the rising prices of goods. The former was initially an issue as contract labor was a major benefit for the companies and government programs benefiting from a large and somewhat skilled and better educated labor force. However, the expansion of industry and manufacturing to meet the demands of the workforce and it's buying power has been boon to all parties. Traditional labor unions have grown considerably as refugees earn citizen status and can join their ranks. Similarly, the severe rationing due to stretched resources and military priority assignment of raw materials has been reduced as supply has in the main met the demands of the current population and military.
Other critics disapproved of everything from the Resettlement Worlds, to the separation of workers from their families, to the wording of labor contracts. Some legitimate complaints have been addressed; others are conditions of the system that are not so simple to change.
All told, the system as it stands is quite likely the best of a bad situation and a far cry from the abuses that other Imperial factions - not to mention New Republic and especially Hutt worlds - have come up with. Those who extol the life they have found in the Vast Empire are easy to find. The alternatives, including death by the plague or slavery on another world, are recognized by those living under the Imperial flag on Vast Empire worlds.
