Since labor is the majority of the voting population, the government should mainly be looking out for the interests of labor. But it has consistently put the interests of a few rich people over the needs of the rest of the people. Specifically, money buys elections.
Labor for labor's sake isn't good. Investing in new ideas is good. Replacing mind-numbing or back-breaking work with cheaper alternatives is nearly always a good thing. Likewise, investing in new ideas should be encouraged.
If the problem is that people don't have enough to live on, attack that problem (I like earned income tax credits). Don't make new ones by discouraging progress.
