Liu Huanming and Yang Siyu: The Humanistic Significance of Moderate Labor from the Perspective of Chinese Modernization

Resolving the predicament of labor alienation and achieving the comprehensive development of the person are core propositions concerning the quality of socialist modernization. Standing upon the historical coordinates of the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "We must rely on labor to create and solidly promote Chinese-path modernization." As labor productivity continues to increase, the people’s pursuit of a better life strengthens, and laborers likewise expect their work to be more moderate in nature. China possesses a massive labor force; its 772 million working population accounts for 54.8% of the total population. Currently, China’s labor sphere is undergoing profound transformations, forming a historical intersection with the people's yearning for a better life. Laborers' demands for the protection of labor rights, the optimization of labor intensity, and the improvement of the labor environment are becoming increasingly prominent. In the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges. Accelerating the construction of harmonious labor relations with Chinese characteristics is not only a practical necessity to solve the problem of the unsustainable development of high-intensity labor, but it is also a requirement to manifest the people-centered development philosophy. Deepening research into the value dimension of moderate labor and promoting the modernization of labor relations governance capacity will not only provide theoretical support for improving the coordination mechanisms of labor relations, but also release the creative vitality of labor through institutional innovation. This achieves the dialectical unity of efficiency and fairness, and of material wealth and spiritual richness within high-quality development, demonstrating the superiority of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

I. The Internal Logic of Moderate Labor

Under the production mode dominated by the logic of capital, the infinite expansion of labor time and intensity not only causes serious damage to the physical and mental health of laborers, but also causes labor itself to deviate from its proper meaning as the confirmation and development of essential human powers, sinking deep into the mire of alienation criticized by Marx. This systemic deprivation of the laborer's subjectivity has brought about a dilemma in the development of modern labor civilization that urgently needs to be resolved. Against this backdrop, exploring a form of labor that can transcend the logic of capital exploitation, return to the authentic value of labor, and align with the requirements for the comprehensive development of the person has become an inevitable demand in both theory and practice. The proposal and implementation of the concept of moderate labor is precisely a profound response to this question of our times. Moderate labor is not a simple reduction of working hours or lowering of intensity; it contains profound theoretical logic and civilizational value, and is rooted in practice. Starting from the theoretical point of origin of Marxist political economy and integrating the specific practice of Chinese-path modernization, this article systematically analyzes the internal logic of moderate labor. It reveals how, within the dialectical unity of criticizing capital alienation, reconstructing labor civilization, and protecting laborers' rights, a new path toward labor liberation and the comprehensive development of the person is opened.

1. Theoretical Origins: The Return to the Essence of Labor Based on the Critique of Surplus Value

Within the horizon of Marxist political economy, the theory of moderate labor is deeply rooted in the critical deconstruction of the logic of capital. Through the theory of surplus value, Marx revealed that the capitalist mode of production takes the maximization of profit as its ultimate goal. By infinitely extending labor time and systematically increasing labor intensity, it doubly squeezes absolute and relative surplus value, alienating the laborer’s body and spirit into living containers for the valorization of capital. The alienated state described in Capital—where the "vampire" will not lose its hold "so long as there is a muscle, a nerve, a drop of blood to be exploited"—is essentially a systemic deprivation of labor subjectivity by capital. This alienated labor not only causes "the worker to become a mere machine," but also causes labor to degenerate from an "objectifying activity of essential human powers" into a "forced activity for the maintenance of physical existence."

The proposal of moderate labor is precisely a revolutionary response to this logic of exploitation. It takes Marx’s labor theory of value as its theoretical cornerstone and maintains that labor time should be anchored to the socially average labor intensity. Its core essence lies in restoring the essential attribute of labor as a free and conscious activity, just as Capital’s interpretation of the labor process states: "By thus acting on the external world and changing it, [man] at the same time changes his own nature... and subordinates [its latent powers] to his own control." The essence of constructing moderate labor is to strip away the oppressive structures imposed on labor by capital and return labor to its authentic state by promoting institutional change and technological liberation. It reconstructs the unity of labor and human essence within the framework of historical materialism, enabling the laborer to ascend from an "object of capital valorization" to a "subject of historical creation." Through the negation of "excessive labor," moderate labor reaffirms the ontological significance of labor in confirming human life-freedom and the development of capabilities. Within the framework of socialist relations of production, it achieves the theoretical transcendence and practical sublation ^[1] of capital alienation. This dual dimension of theoretical breakthrough and practical innovation not only highlights the critical tension of Marxist labor theory, but also reveals the reconstructive significance of socialist relations of production for labor civilization. It is an institutional transcendence of the capitalist paradigm of alienated labor, opening a new path for modern labor civilization guided by the comprehensive development of the person and imbued with humanistic care.

2. Civilizational Reconstruction: The Value Return of the Essence of Modernization within the Horizon of Human Liberation

Viewed from the Marxist theory of human liberation, the core of moderate labor lies in liberating labor from a state of alienation, returning it to the essence of free and conscious human activity, and achieving the dialectical unity of the comprehensive development of the person and social progress, thereby highlighting the humanistic care of Chinese-path modernization. The proposal and promotion of moderate labor satisfy the needs of laborers for decent work and a happy life in the New Era, facilitating the resolution of the problem of insufficient protection of labor rights and interests.

Regarding the construction of labor relations, moderate labor limits the extension of working hours, which can break the despotism of capital over labor time and weaken the exploitative mechanism of the infinite valorization of capital. Continually improving labor relations consultation mechanisms, such as the collective bargaining system, liberates laborers from their previous passive position of labor-capital antagonism. It allows laborers to become co-creators of labor rules and equal sharers of developmental fruits, fully embodying the "people-centered" development philosophy. From the perspective of reforming productive forces, moderate labor actively promotes the development of new quality productive forces. For example, using artificial intelligence technology to undertake repetitive tasks allows laborers to be freed from high-intensity physical labor and shift toward more creative, knowledge-intensive, and innovative labor. This helps labor transition from a mere "means of making a living" to a "pathway for self-actualization" where self-value is realized. Moderate labor advocates for "technology for good," requiring that technology serve human liberation rather than new forms of alienation. It opposes the technological alienation caused by the "tyranny of the algorithm" under the manipulation of capital, ensuring through institutional design that technology becomes a tool for liberation rather than a means of control, thereby defending the autonomy of labor.

This orientation of labor ethics, which emphasizes humanistic care, accurately inherits the core tenets of the Marxist theory of human liberation while integrating distinct Chinese characteristics. Given China’s national condition of a massive population, through a series of institutional and technological innovations, hundreds of millions of laborers can tangibly confirm their own dignity and fully realize their personal value during the labor process. This ensures that the process of Chinese-path modernization always shines with the humanistic brilliance of "essential human powers." As General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, "The people's yearning for a better life is our goal." Moderate labor is the vivid embodiment and concrete practice of this concept in the field of labor. Taking human liberation as its yardstick, it precisely measures the "temperature" of modern development. It forcefully proves that Chinese-path modernization is not only a giant leap in material civilization, but also the all-around progress of human spiritual civilization and social relations—a proactive exploration of a new form of human civilization that leads labor liberation with humanistic care.

3. Practical Foundation: The Practice with Chinese Characteristics in Protecting Laborers’ Rights and Interests

From the perspective of practical logic, moderate labor itself, as a means of preventing excessive labor, is a way of protecting laborers' rights and interests. The concept of moderate labor has continuously developed alongside China's practice with Chinese characteristics in protecting laborers' rights.

In the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, China's policies for protecting laborers' rights have also been continuously improved and perfected, vividly demonstrating the people-centered development philosophy. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee summarized and applied the valuable experience gained since the beginning of reform and opening up, especially in the comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era, emphasizing the need to implement the principle of "upholding a people-centered approach."

As the process of Chinese-path modernization continues to advance, a new round of information technology revolution—especially the rise of the digital economy and platform economy—has given birth to new forms of employment. The main characteristics of these new forms of employment are reflected in the flexibility of labor relations, the diversification of work content, and the elasticity of work methods. These characteristics pose new challenges to the protection of laborers' rights, such as difficulties in identifying labor relations, insufficient social security coverage, low income and benefits, excessive working hours, and the failure to guarantee the right to rest and vacation. To this end, the Report to the 20th CPC National Congress explicitly required "strengthening the protection of the rights and interests of those in flexible employment and in new forms of employment." Corresponding policy measures and guidelines have been issued to clarify the working and resting hours of laborers under these new forms of employment, focusing on their physical and mental health and ensuring they receive reasonable labor remuneration. Simultaneously, the government actively provides necessary labor protection and further strengthens the supervision of the implementation of labor protections. The protection of the rights of laborers in new forms of employment is an expression of the "people-oriented" nature of the value orientation in the process of Chinese-path modernization.

In the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, China has consistently affirmed the value of labor, respected the fruits of labor, and protected the legitimate rights and interests of laborers. This is not only an inheritance of the Marxist theory of labor but also a valuable practical experience accumulated through reform and construction. In the process of promoting the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country, the Communist Party of China has always upheld the philosophy that development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "The people create history, and labor opens the future."

II. The Humanistic Purpose of Moderate Labor in the Process of Chinese-path Modernization

The profound critique of labor alienation under the logic of capital reveals the revolutionary significance of moderate labor at the theoretical level in returning to the essence of labor and transcending the paradigm of exploitation. Moderate labor is an indispensable humanistic cornerstone and ethical support in the grand narrative of Chinese-path modernization. The essence of Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of the person; its core lies in achieving common prosperity for all people and comprehensive development. In this unique context, moderate labor transcends the scope of mere economic efficiency or rights protection, sublimating into a value concept and practical path concerning individual dignity, social harmony, and national civilization. It responds to the proposition of "for whom we develop, on whom we rely, and by whom the fruits are shared," projecting the Marxist ultimate concern for human liberation into labor practice in a concrete and detailed manner. Moderate labor can increase an individual's sense of happiness in life, empower the comprehensive development of the person, build a more harmonious social labor ecosystem, lay the foundation for common prosperity, and gather civilizational strength for the great rejuvenation. Accordingly, this article deeply analyzes and interprets the humanistic brilliance radiated by moderate labor in the process of Chinese-path modernization.

1. Individual Dimension: Consolidating the Foundation of Happiness with Humanistic Care

Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population. China has nearly 800 million laborers and a total population of 1.4 billion. To realize a modernization of such unprecedented scale and challenge, it is all the more necessary to persist in the people-centered development philosophy. To practice this philosophy, we must prioritize laborers' rights to dignity, health, and development. Moderate labor is precisely a response to this core concern. By guaranteeing the well-being and quality of work-life for laborers, it manifests ethical respect for individual value, laying the foundation for enhancing the sense of happiness in life for hundreds of millions of laborers and achieving the comprehensive development of the person.

First, moderate labor is conducive to improving the quality of life of laborers and consolidating the foundation of happiness.

Moderate labor improves the working environment of laborers, can significantly resolve the problem of overwork, and provides a broader space for laborers to pursue their own careers. Consequently, the rights and interests of laborers are protected, income levels move up gradually, the quality of life is enhanced, and the sense of happiness among laborers increases accordingly. Second, moderate labor is conducive to improving the lifestyles of laborers and promoting physical and mental health. Moderate labor ensures appropriate working hours and labor intensity for workers, forming a virtuous cycle between productive labor time and free time. This enables laborers to better balance work and personal life, safeguards their physical and mental health, and guides them toward forming healthy lifestyles. Moderate labor guarantees time for laborers’ leisure, entertainment, and family life, which is crucial for building happy families and enhancing emotional satisfaction; this reflects the requirement for the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations. Finally, moderate labor is conducive to enriching the spiritual lives of laborers and stimulating their endogenous motivation. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization in which material and spiritual civilizations are coordinated. This concept of coordinated development reflects the pursuit of dual abundance—both material and spiritual—within Chinese-path modernization, aiming to elevate the overall quality of the citizenry and the level of social civilization by balancing labor and cultural life. By minimizing the external command-and-control nature of labor, moderate labor incentivizes individual laborers to pursue a sense of accomplishment derived from respect and self-actualization within their work.

In today's society, the needs of laborers are characterized by diversification. Laborers not only strive to satisfy material needs at the economic level but also value spiritual enrichment and fulfillment. At the spiritual level, moderate labor incentivizes laborers to be more enterprising; the spiritual identification with and pursuit of labor urge them to struggle forward. This push from endogenous emotions also provides a continuous stream of happiness and meaning in their lives. Moderate labor is not only an important way to increase the happiness of laborers at the individual level, but it is also a key human-centered factor in transforming the advantages of China's huge population scale into momentum for high-quality development. Deep concern for the individual well-being of hundreds of millions of laborers, coupled with institutional safeguards, consolidates the broadest and deepest mass base for the great cause of modernization.

2. The Social Dimension: Reshaping the Labor Ecosystem with a Humanistic Measure

In the process of deepening the reform of the socialist market economy system, labor forms in China have become increasingly diversified, exhibiting new stage-specific characteristics. The people’s needs for a better life call for a more balanced, sufficient, and harmonious labor ecosystem. At the same time, new challenges have emerged. For instance, working models such as "996" and "007" ^[2] have led to passive overwork due to excessive overtime; some enterprises suffer from work overloads and the infringement of laborers' rights and interests. These phenomena reflect the mismatch between labor supply and demand and the disharmony in labor relations resulting from changes in the modes and forms of labor within the context of the New Era. These phenomena are not merely a misallocation of labor supply and demand; at a deeper level, they represent insufficient concern for human value, dignity, and the right to development. Chinese-path modernization is the "modernization of common prosperity for all people." This refers not only to material abundance but also contains profound humanistic ideals of social fairness and justice, the guarantee of human dignity, and harmonious coexistence. Allowing labor problems to spread unchecked will erode the foundations of society, ultimately weakening the creativity, cohesion, and vitality of sustainable development for society as a whole.

In this context, the concept of moderate labor transcends simple considerations of efficiency. Its core lies in respecting the dignity of labor and safeguarding the well-rounded development of the person. Moderate labor advocates for "allowing laborers to normally and fully utilize their productive forces, providing labor behavior with a volume of labor that matches their position and remuneration." This effectively addresses labor problems in the social dimension from two aspects. On the one hand, moderate labor is conducive to improving the production efficiency of laborers and giving full play to their productive forces. As the process of Chinese-path modernization advances, labor forms are gradually changing. Taking new quality productive forces as an example, the importance of elements such as knowledge, technology, and innovation to social development is becoming increasingly prominent. By determining quantifiable labor intensity and duration, moderate labor provides a reference standard for the labor concepts and behaviors of workers. It guarantees appropriate labor time and intensity, providing laborers with sufficient study time to improve their own labor quality. This helps laborers consciously learn cutting-edge professional technical knowledge and become technical and innovative talents. The imbalance between labor supply and demand brought about by the technological revolution and industrial transformation and upgrading is thus resolved, and the overall level of productive forces in society increases accordingly. At the same time, the realization of moderate labor can also provide long-term stable labor for worker groups. If laborers can find a balance between work and life, they are more inclined to remain in their positions long-term, thereby creating greater value for society. On the other hand, moderate labor guides the whole of society to form correct labor values, deeply resolving the problem of disharmonious labor relations at the spiritual level. "Chinese-path modernization always places the improvement of the people's material living standards, mental state, and scientific literacy in an extremely important position." ^[3]

At the same time, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly demonstrated and emphasized building a correct understanding of the value of labor from its ideological roots. Moderate labor emphasizes providing laborers with remuneration that matches the volume of labor, changing the labor behaviors alienated by consumerism, utilitarianism, and other influences in real life. Moderate labor helps to establish correct labor value concepts throughout society and establishes a labor orientation that serves as a leading banner in the social dimension. Moderate labor measures the "temperature" of development with a humanistic scale and consolidates the social foundation with deep affection for laborers. What moderate labor paves is not only a road to material abundance, but also a civilized road where human dignity is manifested and social harmony can be sustained.

3. The National Dimension: Converging the Great Power of Rejuvenation with the Light of Humanism

The Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC mapped out a grand blueprint for comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization. In this great journey, moderate labor carries a deeper humanistic value. By safeguarding the dignity of laborers, stimulating creative vitality, and promoting the well-rounded development of people, it injects inexhaustible human-centered power into the cause of national rejuvenation.

First, the core of moderate labor is the respect for the life-value and subjective dignity of laborers. It rejects the alienation of people into tools for infinite consumption and cares for the physical and mental health of laborers by guaranteeing reasonable working hours. At the same time, moderate labor prompts enterprises to no longer rely on squeezing time to control costs, driving them to continuously transform and upgrade to broaden employment channels, so that the fruits of economic growth can benefit the broad mass of laborers more fairly. The continuous increase in labor remuneration and the gradual decrease in labor intensity are key to realizing the simple justice of "labor yields gain, and gain is worth the effort." Allowing laborers to truly feel the value of their struggle and the hope of life is an indispensable humanistic temperature on the road to common prosperity. Second, in the New Era of innovation-driven development, we need to "accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces and enhance new momentum for development." Talent is the core strategic resource, and the value and potential of the human being itself are even more priceless treasures. Moderate labor, by safeguarding the physical and mental health and sustainable development of talent, constitutes the source of a nation's innovative development. Moderate labor can avoid "draining the pond to catch the fish," ^[4] ensuring that high-quality talent can sustainably and healthily engage in value creation, contributing wisdom to national development while realizing the full exercise of individual value and the long-term development of their professional careers. This cherishing and care for talent reflects the profound human-centered logic of development for the people, development relying on the people, and development fruits shared by the people; it is a continuous source of strength for the cause of national rejuvenation.

Therefore, advocating for and practicing moderate labor means integrating the concept of "putting the people first" into the lifeblood of national governance. It ensures that the magnificent epic of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation not only shines with the brilliance of material prosperity but also flows with the warm light of the humanistic spirit. What moderate labor safeguards are the roots of civilization—the vivid lives, full spirits, and endless creativity of millions upon millions of workers. It is precisely these that converge into the deepest and most lasting force of Chinese-path modernization, illuminating the road toward a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.

III. The Practical Path of Moderate Labor in the Process of Chinese-path Modernization

Further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-path modernization means, in a certain sense, realizing the creative transformation of the advantages of the socialist system into governance efficacy by removing deep-seated structural barriers. In this historical process, we must resolutely discard various defects in existing systems and mechanisms in practice and actively promote the vigorous development of productive forces to facilitate a qualitative leap in the comprehensive deepening of reform. From the perspective of labor, the realization of moderate labor requires a systematic reshaping and holistic reconstruction of laborers’ concepts of labor, under the premise that the basic institutional framework in the field of labor is essentially established. Through the improvement of the rule-of-law labor governance system, we must build a normative framework where rights and obligations are reciprocal, achieve a dynamic balance among labor, capital, and government through collective consultation mechanisms, and strengthen the regulatory effectiveness of supervision against the "disorderly expansion of capital." Relying on new human capital to stimulate human innovative vitality, we should lead the development of new quality productive forces and promote technologies such as artificial intelligence to serve as a vehicle for liberation as efficiency tools, helping laborers achieve a fundamental transition from mechanical repetitive labor to creative activities. Ultimately, moderate labor will be realized within the dialectical unity of efficiency and humanism, creating a new paradigm of labor modernization with Chinese characteristics that combines advanced productive forces with civilizational sustainability. This provides a "Chinese solution" for humanity to break through the predicament of labor alienation dominated by the logic of capital, vividly practicing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategic plan to "create a new form of human civilization."

1. Value Leadership: Establishing a Modern System of Labor Concepts

To realize moderate labor, it is necessary to establish correct labor concepts and have a correct understanding of labor. Labor creates value. Without labor, it is difficult to realize Chinese-path modernization, and the realization of moderate labor would be out of the question. Through conscious and active labor activities, human beings transform the objective world, thereby creating unique human value. Only in this way can people fully feel the value and meaning they gain in labor. Therefore, in the process of promoting Chinese-path modernization, it is necessary to advocate that the broad mass of laborers uphold correct labor concepts, stimulate their enthusiasm for labor, and encourage them to actively contribute their individual strength.

When facing the choice of a profession, establishing correct labor concepts helps laborers make the right decisions. A good start to a career is also the starting point for the realization of moderate labor. Regarding the choice of profession, Marx’s high school graduation essay contains considerations of moderate labor: "Our physical constitution often threatens us, and our whole life then becomes an unhappy struggle between the spiritual and the physical principle." ^[5] Marx believed that the choice of profession "should be governed by the welfare of mankind and our own perfection." The most dignified profession is one that can combine one's ideals with reality. Only when thoughts and actions are connected can a person truly develop their talents and make beneficial contributions to humanity—that is, to struggle in labor and seek happiness in labor. We should coordinately guide laborers to establish correct labor concepts at the individual, family, social, and national levels. Labor education for the working people should be strengthened to guide them in establishing correct labor values and building a professionalized, systematized, and scientific labor education system. Over time, this can lead the broad mass of working people to form correct labor concepts. This is the basis for stimulating laborers to struggle for correct ideals and is the starting point for realizing moderate labor. Labor is no longer merely a means of making a living, but becomes life's primary need.

Since the Reform and Opening-up, China's economy has grown rapidly. However, hidden behind this high growth is the overwork of laborers. The rapid development of society has provided rare opportunities for the development of individual laborers. With the widening gap between rich and poor, many laborers pursue money excessively at the cost of their physical health, either to accumulate personal wealth or to bear the burdens of enterprises and families. The physical sub-health and psychological depression caused by such overwork are also issues that cannot be ignored in China's rapid social development. Chinese-path modernization emphasizes the dual driving forces of material and spiritual civilizations. It requires laborers to establish correct concepts regarding labor and money, reach a consensus on moderate labor in society, re-examine past labor values and concepts of money, avoid overwork, achieve decent employment, and gradually realize moderate labor throughout society, transforming the people's yearning for a better life into reality.

2. Institutional Guarantee: Improving the Rule-of-Law Labor Governance System

Although China already has such...

Despite the existence of legal provisions such as the Labor Law of the People's Republic of China, the Work Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases, deficiencies persist. Specifically, the regulation of labor intensity requires further strengthening, and the mechanisms for occupational health management need continued improvement and refinement. In contemporary society, there remains a phenomenon where certain enterprises abuse labor and squeeze workers in pursuit of profit maximization: by excessively pursuing improvements in production efficiency and mandating overtime, these firms deprive workers of the rest time to which they are entitled. Such behavior results in physical and mental exhaustion for workers, easily triggering physiological and psychological illnesses; extreme cases, such as "death from overwork" (karoshi), occur from time to time. Without doubt, these practices hinder the realization of moderate labor.

Therefore, in the process of advancing Chinese-path modernization, China is striving to forge harmonious labor relations, gradually improving the system of laws and regulations related to moderate labor, optimizing occupational health supervision mechanisms, and promoting the realization of moderate labor to create a favorable environment for workers. Regarding the rule of law system, first, it is necessary to integrate current realities with developmental needs to improve existing labor-time benchmark systems and labor quota systems, while strengthening relevant legislative work. This involves further refining legal regulations concerning overwork, "death from overwork," and "suicide from overwork" ^[6] in existing legislation, and conducting research on the criminalization, punishment, and compensation systems for overwork-related crimes. Simultaneously, the accountability mechanism for violations of regulations must be strengthened to protect the personal, property, and life safety of employees, establishing a multi-dimensional, systematic, and full-process supervision system. Second, the scope of application for the current Labor Law should be expanded to ensure that all workers enjoy the same labor rights and protections. Relevant administrative organs must enhance their enforcement capabilities and strengthen supervision and penalties for illegal employment. Reference can be drawn from practices in developed countries; for instance, the Japanese government has set upper limits on overtime hours and promoted the implementation of the paid leave system by restricting enterprise operating hours and increasing the number of labor inspectors, thereby effectively alleviating the situation of overworked laborers. At the level of corporate execution, first, the internal labor environment of companies must be optimized to cultivate a corporate culture that respects talent and life safety. Existing rules and regulations should be improved to include employees' occupational health and safety within the scope of norms, predicated on labor safety standards. Second, employees should be encouraged to cultivate healthy lifestyles, focus on improving their physical fitness, and consciously follow moderate labor times and intensities in their work. Inhibition of overwork should start at the source, emphasizing prior prevention rather than relying solely on post-hoc remedial measures.

In the process of realizing moderate labor, it is crucial to sound the legal system and improve the supervision mechanisms for moderate labor. Within the process of Chinese-path modernization, the government, enterprises, and workers must "concentrate their hearts and strength" ^[7] to collaboratively promote work related to moderate labor, ensuring that the legal system and supervision mechanisms better adapt to the needs of social development. Furthermore, enterprises should place greater emphasis on caring for workers, improving their treatment and benefits, protecting their legitimate rights and interests, and steadily improving the working environment. This will create favorable social conditions for China's modernization construction. By strengthening the protection of workers' rights and interests and realizing moderate labor step-by-step, we can satisfy the people's aspirations for a better life and contribute to the cause of national modernization.

3. Key Support: Driving the Development of New Quality Productive Forces with New Human Capital

Talent is the primary resource for educational development and scientific-technological innovation, playing a subjective role in the integrated development system of education, technology, and talent. "Talent is the foundation of innovation; innovation-driven development is, in essence, talent-driven development." Talent-driven development is the core force and the most critical driver of labor-power. Therefore, we must use new human capital as a strategic fulcrum to stimulate the creative vitality of workers, enhance their labor quality, drive the development of new quality productive forces, and gradually realize moderate labor.

The theoretical framework of new human capital emphasizes that, compared to traditional cognitive abilities, a series of non-cognitive abilities and socio-economic skills play an equal or even more critical role in individual success, economic development, and social progress. As an engine driving the development of new quality productive forces, new human capital essentially embeds all-around human development deeply into the processes of technological innovation and industrial transformation, activating a qualitative change in the system of productive forces by releasing the "human-base dividend." The core of new quality productive forces lies in revolutionary technological breakthroughs and the innovative allocation of factors of production; its development relies heavily on the innovative resilience and collaborative efficacy of talent resources. In the new developmental stage where the knowledge economy and digital technology are deeply integrated, workers need to possess composite capabilities, including high-level cognitive skills, continuous learning and adaptation, and innovation. The development of new quality productive forces requires the penetration of frontier science and technology throughout the entire industrial chain through knowledge integration and the transformation of technological applications. By normalizing the transformation of innovative behavior, the creative labor of micro-level individuals becomes the endogenous power for the iteration of productive forces. Faced with the challenge of accelerating technological iteration, new quality productive forces require workers to possess the capacity for continuous "skill-upgrading." Emphasizing investment in new human capital, particularly the cultivation of non-cognitive abilities, helps elevate the overall quality of the workforce, promotes high-quality employment, and better enables high-quality population development to drive new quality productive forces, thereby supporting the realization of Chinese-path modernization.

The value of realizing moderate labor in the process of Chinese-path modernization lies in returning to the essential connection between labor and the human being, providing a practical possibility for promoting the free and all-around development of individuals. Advocating for moderate labor is, in essence, about liberating labor from the shackles of alienation and restoring labor as the human being's self-affirmation. "Freedom in this field can only consist in socialized man, the associated producers, rationally regulating their interchange with Nature, bringing it under their common control, instead of being ruled by it as by the blind forces of Nature; and achieving this with the least expenditure of energy and under conditions most favorable to, and worthy of, their human nature." ^[8] True moderate labor should achieve a dialectical unity between the development of productive forces and human liberation. The practice of Chinese-path modernization is a vivid testament to the contemporary vitality of the Marxist labor theory of value. From the alienation of labor in the era of industrial civilization to moderate labor in the era of digital civilization, this modernization of human labor forms finds its fundamental humanistic significance in the fact that, on the path of Chinese-path modernization, workers can more fully appropriate their own essential powers, ultimately pointing toward the free and all-around development of the person.