Character of Labour, expresses the most important features of the social nature of labour inherent in the given economic 38 system of society. The domination of socialist ownership of the means of production radically changes the character of labour. Lenin wrote that under socialism "for the first time after centuries of working for others, of forced labour for the exploiter, it has become possible to work for oneself and moreover to employ all the achievements of modern technology and culture in one’s work" (V. I. Lenin, Collected Works, Vol. 26, p. 407). Joint production activity in the common interest heightens the role of the working people in production, determines the free development of their physical and inner qualities, and intensifies the creative potential of human labour, filling workers with inspiration, a creative urge and the joy of labour. As socialist society develops, ample opportunities open up before a person to display his or her abilities in every way. This is shown by the country-wide socialist emulation movement and the growing mass movement of innovators and inventors. The fact that the Soviet people work for themselves and for their society, their joint creative work when the means of production belong to society as a whole make up the content of the economic freedom of everyone. Free from exploitation, the labour of the people in socialist society is a source of growing social wealth and of the well-being of the people as a whole and of each individual. Under capitalism, labour is hired and forced, and is characterised by exploitation and the antagonistic contradictions between its private and social aspects. Labour in socialist society becomes directly social (see Direct Social Production). Under socialism, the universal character of labour, i. e. when every able-bodied member of society has to engage in socially useful work in accordance with his or her abilities, is an inalienable feature of the social organisation of work. The demand that labour must be universal is reflected in the principle "He who does not work, neither shall he eat" which socialism practises. Article 14 of the Constitution of the USSR proclaims: "Socially useful work and its results determine a person’s status in society.” The universal nature of labour does away with the grave injustice inherent in all antagonistic societies, in which exploiting classes usually lead a parasitic life, appropriating the fruits of the labour of others. Unemployment, inherent in capitalism, is also eliminated, thus giving all workers firm confidence in their future. The replacement of private ownership of the means of production by public ownership does away with unearned incomes. Participation in socially useful work becomes the source of income for all members of society. Labour in socialist society is the first stage in the development of communist labour. Socialism still cannot rid labour of the lopsidedness left over from capitalism nor eliminate the survivals of the former division of labour and change people’s attitude to work. For most members of society, labour under socialism is still a means of subsistence. Society has to exercise control over the measure of labour and consumption of every person. The moulding of a comprehensively developed worker is directly linked with communist labour.