Chapter 30 "Buying Off the Entire Factory"

In the conference room, under the scrutinizing gazes of the six leaders of the machinery factory, Wang Ye could only scratch his head in resignation.

In truth, Wang Ye had a reason for wanting to elevate the treatment of the employees so much. Didn't he know that there was no such thing as overtime pay in this era?

Simply put, Wang Ye wanted to "buy off" the entire factory!

On one hand, he wanted to maintain the loyalty of everyone in the machinery factory by offering wages that exuded a sense of superiority from a distant future. This would ensure strict confidentiality as the current machinery factory was no longer a military factory and couldn't rely on secrecy regulations to demand compliance from everyone.

On the other hand, he aimed to foster a sense of belonging, pride, and honor among the workers towards the machinery factory. This would greatly facilitate many of Wang Ye's future plans, allowing him to effectively command the entire factory and have his orders followed without question.

Moreover, soon the country would enter an era where making missiles was less profitable than selling tea eggs, and the machinery factory was still a state-owned enterprise. Theoretically, the country needed to allocate personnel to the machinery factory every year, including university graduates and technical school graduates.

Wang Ye's goal was to create a model enterprise and attract talented individuals from military research institutes, or even those who had been laid off from military research jobs!

After a brief silence, Wang Ye could only sweep a glance at the six leaders of the machinery factory and then ask, "Senior, you thought my proposal was too extravagant earlier. What are your thoughts then?"

Facing Wang Ye's question, the old factory director responded without hesitation, "I believe that as long as full wages are paid in the future, it will be sufficient."

"As for other things like nutrition subsidies, overtime pay... they can be dispensed with. As for the year-end bonus..."

Pausing for a moment, the old factory director hesitated before continuing, "In the past, when our factory was doing well, although we didn't directly issue year-end bonuses, we provided some essentials like rice, flour, oil, vegetables, pork, thermos flasks, and clothing during the New Year."

"But in recent years, the situation has been bad, so naturally, we haven't had anything."

"So, regarding the year-end bonus, I think we can issue a moderate amount. After all, it's an open policy now! It can also boost everyone's work enthusiasm."

Finally, holding the smoking pipe, the old factory director concluded, "I believe the most important thing is to introduce the engine production line. Good steel must be used on the blade!"

"Even if our funds are insufficient to acquire the production line, we can still save the money! Having money in our pocket keeps us from worrying. Alternatively, we can purchase some other inexpensive equipment to improve our productivity. Isn't that right, Wang Ye?"

The other five leaders of the machinery factory nodded in agreement with the old factory director's remarks, and Wang Ye smiled and said, "Senior, what you said indeed makes sense, but I must remind you of one thing."

"In the past, we were a military factory and didn't have to worry about this issue."

"But now, we are a state-owned factory, and according to regulations, we have to hand over profits to the state every year. In other words, if we don't spend most of this five million and twenty thousand before the Chinese New Year, we'll have to hand over at least four million and five hundred thousand to the state!"

Upon hearing Wang Ye's words, the six leaders of the machinery factory were dumbfounded. They had long overlooked this issue because the machinery factory used to be a military factory, and they had been living off subsidies for many years!

Wang Ye dared to openly discuss the issue of handing over profits in the conference room precisely because the country had already begun the "reform of profits into taxes."

Since 1980, the country had shifted from requiring state-owned enterprises to hand over profits to levying "operating taxes." This was aimed at stimulating the initiative of state-owned enterprises. Although the tax rate for operating taxes was much higher than the profit retention rate, the government's revenue increased every year.

"Of course, I don't mean to withhold support from the country."

"But in my opinion, this money will be more effective if it's kept within our factory!"

"After all, if our equipment is upgraded, we can better contribute to the country's foreign exchange earnings, right?"

"Furthermore, everyone has suffered for so many years. In the past, wages were not paid in full every year. My hair has turned white from the stress."

"Now that we have money, I feel relieved. I support the plan proposed by the junior manager!"

"I think if anyone has objections, they can voluntarily give up their bonus, right?"

"Everyone, what do you think?"

With this statement, laughter filled the room. After all, in recent years, the factory had been struggling financially, and even these six leaders were barely making ends meet.

Seeing the expressions of everyone present, the old factory director nodded and sighed, "Alright, let's do it this way!"

"After so many years of hardship, it's time for everyone to relax a bit!"

"I think, once the news spreads later..."

"We can celebrate the Chinese New Year in advance!"

Finally, after tapping his pipe on the ashtray, the old factory director smiled, and Wang Ye finally breathed a sigh of relief.