Hotline Asia -- Social Concern Notes

Parish Social Concern Groups - Church's Social Teachings
~ Labour: Wages ~
Lesson 28

Question || Church Teaching || "Doing Justice" || Facilitators' Notes
 

Introduction

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Molly, a Filipino domestic worker, is in urgent need for a job. Her husband and two children in the Philippines depend upon her financial help. She approaches me and offers to work for US$260 a month. She promises not to take any holidays and work twelve hours a day. So I hire her. Since she doesn't take a holiday, she is able to send almost all her salary to her family in the Philippines. They now will have at least enough to eat. She is very grateful to me. At Sunday Eucharist, I thank God for sending me such a worker at such a reasonable cost.
 
Question

  1. List some Christian principles involved in this anecdote.

    Christian Principle How Does This Principle Apply to Molly's Case?
       
       
       
       
       
 

Social Teachings of the Church

"Finally, payment for labor must be such as to furnish a man with the means to cultivate his own material, social, cultural, and spiritual life worthily, and that of his dependents. What this payment should be will vary according to each man's assignment and productivity, the conditions of his place of employment, and the common good." "The Church Today" Walter M. Abbott, (Editor), Documents of Vatican II (New York: Guild Press, 1966) #67, p. 276.
 

Doing Justice

  1. Talk with a domestic worker and estimate her
    Subsistence wage: $_______
    Living wage: $________

    What is your Christian Response to following questions?

    • Ms. Wong could get by with the workers that she already has but because the wages are so cheap, She hires an extra worker and gives her a subsistence wage. Explain your "yes" or "no".
    • A large Hong Kong company decides that it can save money by out-sourcing. In that way the workers can set up their own companies. What is wrong with this way of thinking?
    • The Hong Kong government wants to charge each Filipina HK$500 a month in taxes.
 
Facilitators' Notes

"Every man has the right to work, to a chance to develop his qualities and his personality in the exercise of his profession, to equitable remuneration which will enable him and his family 'to lead a worthy life on the material, social, cultural and spiritual level' and to assistance in case of need arising from sickness or age." "Gaudium et Spes #67", Joseph Gremillion, The Gospel of Peace and Justice, Catholic Social Teaching since Pope John, (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis, 1976) pp. 494.

This reflection should surface a variety of Christian social principles such as justice versus charity, culpable ignorance, universal access, superfluous goods, rights of migrant and immigrant workers, subsistence wage, family wage and living wage. It includes the obligations of workers, employers, government. Yet rather than overwhelming the student, we devise a situation in which he would be hiring a migrant worker and must immediately decide on a salary. He/she then actually seeks out a resource person e.g. a migrant worker. When students compare their results, let the debate begin. The facilitator should be prepared with relevant Church documents.

QUESTION

List some Christian principles involved in this anecdote.

Christian Principle How Does This Principle Apply to Molly's Case?
Just wage What are the criteria in determining a just wage.
Universal access Does migrant have a right to work in another country?
Superfluous goods Do I have an obligation to pay Molly a subsistence wage? A living wage?
Theology of leisure Is the function of leisure something more than enabling Molly to perform her duties.
Survival wage How much money does Molly need so that she and her family don't die?
Rights vs Duties Molly has right. Do I have a duty?
Love of neighbor Is my obligation in charity or in justice?
Living Wage What constitutes a salary that assures a human life.
Subsidiarity What if I cannot afford to hire Molly at a living wage? Whose responsibility?
 

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