In order to crack down on the labor movements which were rising after Japanese-Shino War, with a new role of regulating them it was enacted as the successor of Shukai oyobi Seisha Ho (the law on assembly and association), the major target of which had been to regulate political activities focusing on the Freedom and People's Rights Movement.
日清戦争の後、高まりを見せ始めていた労働運動を取り締まるために、それまで自由民権運動を念頭に置いて政治活動の規制を主な目的としていた集会及政社法に、労働運動の規制という新たな役割を付加した上で継承発展させる形で制定された。