The Statute of Laborers was the reaction of landlords in England when labor prices shot up after the Black Death. The Black Death had killed so many people that the demand for work increased, thus increasing wages for the labors. The landlords, not wanting to pay these increasing wages, came up with the Statute of Laborers to put a limit on wages. The statute, however, was poorly enforced and very unsuccessful.

--info from A History of Western Society by Mckay, John.