With T&T’s annual Labour Day being marked on June 19, Justice Dr Anthony DJ Gafoor examines the Church’s position.
The Catholic Church has long been a staunch advocate for the rights and dignity of workers, recognising that the protection of workers is a fundamental human right. Through its social doctrine, the Church has consistently emphasised the importance of just wages, decent working conditions, and the right of workers to organise and collectively bargain.
This article explores the Church’s comprehensive teachings on safeguarding the rights and welfare of workers, highlighting the Church’s call for social justice and the promotion of the common good.
The dignity of work and the rights of workers
The Church’s teaching on the protection of workers is rooted in the fundamental belief that work is a sacred and dignified activity, essential to the human person’s self-fulfilment and contribution to society. The Church recognises that workers have inherent rights that must be respected, including the right to just compensation, safe and healthy working environments, and the freedom to organise and bargain collectively.
This teaching is based on the principle that every human being, created in the image of God, deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity, regardless of their occupation or social status.
Social doctrine and the protection of workers
The Church’s social doctrine, developed over centuries, has provided a comprehensive framework for understanding and addressing the rights and needs of workers. Central to this doctrine is the principle of the common good, which calls for the promotion of the well-being of all members of society, including those who are economically and socially vulnerable.
The Church’s teachings on the dignity of work, the right to fair wages, and the importance of workers’ associations have served as a moral compass for Catholic individuals, communities, and institutions in their efforts to protect the rights and welfare of workers.
The Church’s social doctrine is built on principles such as the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity. Major encyclicals and documents that outline the Church’s teachings on workers’ rights include Rerum Novarum, Laborem Exercens, and Centesimus Annus.
Further, the Church’s call for social justice is rooted in its belief that all people, especially the most vulnerable, have a right to a decent standard of living and the opportunity to fully participate in society.
The right to just wages and decent working conditions
The Church firmly believes that workers have a fundamental right to just and fair compensation for their labour. This includes not only a living wage that allows workers and their families to meet their basic needs, but also benefits and working conditions that respect the dignity and well-being of the employee.
The Church has condemned the exploitation of workers, especially in the form of low wages, excessive working hours, and unsafe or unhealthy work environments. Instead, the Church calls for employers to prioritise the welfare of their workers and to ensure that their labour is justly rewarded.
Wages should enable workers and their families to live with dignity and participate fully in society. Workers have a right to safe, healthy, and humane working environments that respect their physical and mental well-being. Employers also have a moral obligation to ensure the fair treatment and welfare of their workers.
Importance of trade unions and collective bargaining
The Catholic Church has long recognised the vital role that trade unions and collective bargaining play in protecting the rights and interests of workers. The Church teaches that workers have a fundamental right to organise and collectively negotiate with employers, and that these associations are essential for ensuring just wages, safe working conditions, and the overall well-being of the workforce.
The Church has condemned the suppression of workers’ rights to form and join unions and has called upon employers and governments to respect and facilitate the collective bargaining process.
Trade unions provide workers with a united voice to advocate for their rights and interests, and to negotiate better working conditions and compensation with employers.
Further, the process of collective bargaining allows workers, through their unions, to negotiate with employers on issues such as wages, benefits, and working conditions.
The Church has consistently supported the right of workers to organise and has called upon employers and governments to respect and facilitate collective bargaining.
The prohibition of child labour and the protection of vulnerable workers
The Church has been a steadfast advocate for the protection of vulnerable workers, including children, women, and migrants. It has condemned child labour, recognising that it deprives children of their basic rights, such as education and the opportunity to develop physically and emotionally.
Additionally, the Church has called for the safeguarding of the rights and dignity of all workers, regardless of their social or economic status, gender, or immigration status.
The Church’s teachings emphasise the importance of ensuring that all workers, especially the most vulnerable, are treated with fairness, respect, and compassion. The Church thus opposes the exploitation of children in the workforce and calls for their protection and access to education. It also emphasises the need to ensure the rights and dignity of women. The Church advocates for the rights and welfare of migrant workers, who are often vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination.
The call for social justice and the welfare of workers
At the heart of the Church’s teachings on the protection of workers’ rights is a fundamental commitment to social justice. The Church believes that the well-being of workers and their families is essential to the common good, and that all members of society have a responsibility to ensure that workers are treated with dignity and respect.
This call for social justice is rooted in the Church’s belief that every human being, created in the image of God, deserves the opportunity to live a life of dignity and fulfilment. The Church recognises work as a sacred and dignified human activity that is essential to personal and societal fulfilment.
Applying Catholic Social Teaching to protect workers’ rights
The Catholic Church’s teachings on the protection of workers’ rights thus offer a comprehensive and actionable framework for individuals, communities, and institutions to promote social justice and the dignity of work.
Additionally, the Church’s emphasis on the common good and the preferential option for the poor calls for a holistic approach to addressing the needs and vulnerabilities of all workers, especially those who are most marginalised.
By applying the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we can work towards a society that truly values the dignity and rights of all workers.
Justice Dr Anthony DJ Gafoor is a Judge and a lay liturgical minister.
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