The Meaning of Work Working is both a right and a duty.

1. Work is the use or application of our physical powers to accomplish a task.

2. Work is for the purpose of obtaining an economic gain for the worker.

The Right to Work

Working is both a right and a duty.

The right to work derives from right to life. Man has basic needs which must be satisfied in order

for him to survive.

Therefore, the right to life implies that a person has the right to private property, to those means necessary for him to sustain himself and his dependents.

Pope Leo XIII makes states:

“When a man engages in remunerative labor, the very reason and motive of his work is to obtain property and to hold it a his own private possession. If one man hires out to another his strength or his industry, he does this for the purpose of receiving in return what is necessary for food and living;

he thereby expressly proposes to acquire a full and real right, not only to the remuneration, but also to disposal of that remuneration as he pleases…But it is precisely in this power of disposal that ownership consists, whether the property be land or movable goods.” (Encyclical on Condition of Labor, in Five Great Encyclucals, p3)

“I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along

straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be

hampered; when your run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

guard it well, for it is your life.”

The Duty of Work Work aims to promote life. It

is a natural duty since every person is endowed with bodily and mental powers to that he may take care of himself and not become a burden to others.

This obligation is a greater reasonability when one becomes the head of a family.

“for it is a most sacred law of nature” says Pope Leo XIII

“the work which sustains you is the basis of love, love for oneself, love for the

wife and children, love for brothers and countrymen”

says Andres Bonifacio

Capital and Labor

Capital refers to the owner or investors of an industry.

Labor refers to the workers employed by the industry.

The labor code of the Philippines

defines the relationship between capital and labor.

The Question of Wage

It is claimed that wages are fixed by mutual agreement between capital and labor.

In the Philippines, the determination of the wage is the responsibility of National Wage Board and the Regional Tripartite Wage Board.

The Family Wage

The minimum wage may not necessarily commensurate for workers to maintain modest standard of living.

May 1949, the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines have proposed that a just wage is “family wage”, that is, one which commensurate to the needs of a modest average family.

Factors for Determining Wages

Pope John XXIII declares that in determining wages “the norms of justice and equity should be strictly observed”.

Mater et Magistra

(Mother and Teacher)

The Rights of Labor

The Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We cite pertinent provisions: 1. The state Parties to the present Covenant

recognize the right to work, which include the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely choose or accepts, and will

take appropriate steps to safeguard this right (Part III, article 6).

2. The State Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone

to the enjoyment of just and favorable conditions of work, which ensure, in

particular:

a.)Remuneration which provides all workers as a minimum: (i) Fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value without distinction of any kind, in particular women being guaranteed conditions for work not inferior to those enjoyed by men, with equal pay for equal work; and

(ii) A decent living for themselves and their families in accordance with the provisions of the present Covenant;

b.) Safe and healthy working conditions;

c.) Equal opportunity for every one to be promoted is in his employment to an appropriate higher level, subject to no considerations other than those of seniority and competence;

d.) Rest, leisure and reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay, as well as remuneration for public holidays (art. 7)

3. The State Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure:

a) The right of everyone to form trade unions and join the trade union of his choice subject only to the rules of the organization concerned, for the promotion and protection of his economic and social interests. No restriction may be place on the exercise of these right other than those prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public order or the protection of the rights and freedom of others;

b) The rights of trade unions to establish national federations or confederations and the right of the

latter to form or join international trade union organizations;

c) The right of trade unions to function freely subject to no limitations other than those prescribed by law and which re necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public order of for the protection o f the rights and freedom of others;

d) The right to strike, provided that it is exercised in conformity with the laws of the particular country

(Art.8)

Unionism Every worker has a right to join a union in order

to protect hi livelihood and to cooperate in building social order.

The Catholic Bishops declare that “it is morally wrong, and in our country a crime punishable by law, for any one to interfere with this natural right either by threats or by discrimination against those who join such associations” (Pastoral Letter on Social Justice)

Labor, if it is unorganized, can have no effective voice to protect its rights and

to bargain collectively with Capital. Therefore, for as long as unions are

peaceful and seek their objectives by lawful means, they are beneficial to the

members and to society as a whole.

Morality of Strike

A strike is an organized cessation of work by workers for the purpose of forcing management to meet their work related demands, such as increase in wages and benefits, or improve working conditions. For a strike to be legal, it must be in accordance with the rules defined by the Department of Labor.

For it to be morally permissible, the following conditions must

apply: 1. There is a sufficient and just reason for holding a

strike. a strike should not be resorted to unless all other unless all other means of conciliation or dialogue with management had been tried.

2. The intended good results must outweigh the evil effects of the strikes, such as losing a week’s wages, or incurring the ire of industry officials.

3. The means employed are lawful. Threats, harassment, or physical violence should not be employed either by labor and capital to attain their respective purpose.

Morality and Personnel Management

Morality – is founded on justice.

– standards of conduct that are generally accepted as right or proper.

Personnel – the department of organization dealing with employees

Management –organizing and controlling of the affairs of business

– the act of handling and controlling something successfully.

Cardinal Jaime Sin invokes the principle of charity and solidarity in a pastoral letter, stating:

“Despite their many conflict interest, people belong to the world of labor and that of capital must realize that they all

share humanity and must embrace each other as brothers and sisters and decide

to live as such.

Efforts to attain industrial peace will recede when and where persons are looked upon with hatred and scorn; they make progress when and where persons are embraced in respect and in love. Love and solidarity call upon labor and management to go beyond the narrow confines of their groups and work for common good of the country and fr the attainment of peace for everyone.”

(Industrial Peace: A Christian Imperative)

Basic Duties of Workers

A Teacher’s Creed Look beyond each student’s face Try to get in touch with the feeling and the

special dream that means so much… Add a gift of kindness to each lesson you

impart, Listen to the one’s you teach, and Listen to your heart … Be a teacher who inspires their respect and

loyalty; Be a kind of person you want them to grow to

be . . . -anonymous-

Industrial Peace: A Christian Imperative

Jaime Cardinal Sin

(Excerpt from the Pastoral Letter on the celebration of Industrial Peace Month, May 1990)

Basic Principles: a) Justice: Peace is the fruit of justice which

requires, first of all, that persons and their inalienable human rights are promoted and defended.

b) Respect for the Personalities and Values of Labor:

an activity that proceeds from the human persons as its proper subject and is primarily directed to the good of persons.

c) Priority of Labor over capital

The personal value of labor demands that capital should serve labor and not the other way around.

d) The Principle of Charity and Solidarity:

Despite their many conflicting interests, people belonging to the world of labor and that of capital must realize that they all share the same humanity and must embrace each other as brothers and sisters and decide to live as such.

e) True Dialogue in Search of the Common Good:

Conflicts must be resolved by means of peaceful and honest dialogue.

Reporters: Christine Mae Lorenzo Jeyann D. Namod Helen V. Garbanzos Maria Crestita D. Montoyo Richelle V. Fortuno

La Carlota City College

Graduate School