Laborem exercens: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Encyclical

| name = Laborem exercens

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| web_la = http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091981_laborem-exercens_lt.html

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{{Social teachings of the popes}}

'''''Laborem Exercens''''' (English: '''On Human Work''') was an [[encyclical]] written by [[Pope John Paul II]] in 1981, on human work. It is part of a larger body of doctrine known as [[Catholic social teaching]], which traces its origin to another encyclical, ''[[Rerum Novarum]]'', issued by [[Pope Leo XIII]] in 1891.

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''Laborem Exercens'' begins with a scriptural argument that work is more than just an activity or a commodity, but an essential part of human nature.

:The Church finds in the very first pages of the Book of Genesis the source of her conviction that work is a fundamental dimension of human existence on earth.... When man, who had been created “in"in the image of God.... male and female,”" (Gen 1:27) hears the words: “Be"Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it”it" (Gen 1:28), even though these words do not refer directly and explicitly to work, beyond any doubt they indirectly indicate it as an activity for man to carry out in the world.<ref>''Laborem Exercens'' §4</ref>

Work was not a result of Adam’s sin, but was given to humanity from the moment of [[Genesis creation narrative|creation]]. John Paul draws from this passage the conclusion that work is essential to human nature, and that “man"man is the subject of work.”"

:{{quote|Man has to subdue the earth and dominate it, because as the “image"image of God”God" he is a person, that is to say, a subjective being capable of acting in a planned and rational way, capable of deciding about himself, and with a tendency to self-realization. As a person, man is therefore the subject of work.<ref>''Laborem Exercens'' §6</ref>}}

John Paul makes a distinction between work and toil. Work is an integral part of human nature; while toil, according to Genesis, was a consequence of sin. The two cannot be separated now, but we can still find the uplifting and fulfilling aspect of work, which John Paul names ''industriousness''.

:{{quote|God's fundamental and original intention with regard to man, whom he created in his image and after his likeness (cf. Gen 1:26-27), was not withdrawn or cancelled out even when man, having broken the original covenant with God, heard the words: "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread" (Gen 3:19). These words refer to the sometimes heavy toil that from then onwards has accompanied human work.... And yet, in spite of all this toil—perhaps, in a sense, because of it—work is a good thing for man.... through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfilment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes “more"more a human being.” "<ref name="LaboremExercens">''Laborem Exercens'' §9</ref>}}

In the modern world there are many situations that tend to degrade the dignity of work. John Paul called these “threats"threats to the right order of values.”" For example, when work is treated as a product to be sold, or when workers are considered as an impersonal “work"work force,”" then humans are being treated as instruments, and not as the subject of work.<ref>''Laborem Exercens'' §7</ref> Other violations of dignity include [[unemployment]]; under-employment of highly skilled workers; inadequate wages to support life; inadequate job security;<ref>''Laborem Exercens'' §8</ref> and forced labor.<ref name="LaboremExercens" />

John Paul recognized technology as a great benefit, provided it is regarded as a tool and not as a master. However, technology also presents some risks.

:{{quote|Understood in this case not as a capacity or aptitude for work, but rather as a whole set of instruments which man uses in his work, technology is undoubtedly man's ally. It facilitates his work, perfects, accelerates and augments it. It leads to an increase in the quantity of things produced by work, and in many cases improves their quality. However, it is also a fact that, in some instances, technology can cease to be man's ally and become almost his enemy, as when the mechanization of work “supplants”"supplants" him, taking away all personal satisfaction and the incentive to creativity and responsibility, when it deprives many workers of their previous employment, or when, through exalting the machine, it reduces man to the status of its slave.<ref>''Laborem Exercens'' §5</ref>}}

==Labor and capital==

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* People are more important than things.<ref>''Laborem Exercens'', §12; Henriot ''et al''., p. 77</ref>

For contrast, he named two ideas he considered to be errors: [[Economic materialism|materialism]] and [[economism]]. Materialism subordinates people to property; while economism regards the value of human labour only according to its economic purpose. John Paul recommends instead a philosophy of [[personalism]], a shift of attitude which could be achieved in a socialist system.

:{{quote|The person who works desires not only due remuneration for his work; he also wishes that, within the production process, provision be made for him to be able to know that in his work, even on something that is owned in common, he is working "for himself". This awareness is extinguished within him in a system of excessive bureaucratic centralization, which makes the worker feel that he is just a cog in a huge machine moved from above...<ref>''Laborem Exercens'' §15</ref>}}

In a modern work-space it becomes very complex to establish ownership rights. Natural resources must be acknowledged as gifts of God, belonging to all. Any tools or technology used builds on prior work by countless generations, and continue to be influenced by those who use them in the present day.

:{{quote|If it is true that capital, as the whole of the means of production, is at the same time the product of the work of generations, it is equally true that capital is being unceasingly created through the work done with the help of all these means of production, and these means can be seen as a great workbench at which the present generation of workers is working day after day.<ref>''Laborem Exercens'' §14</ref>}}

Based upon this view, John Paul proposed a flexible and dynamic view of ownership and economics, and commended arrangements in which workers share in the ownership, such as shareholding by workers, [[workers cooperative|joint ownership]], and profit-sharing.

==The indirect employer==

John Paul examined the rights of workers in the context of a broader picture including both direct and indirect employers. A worker’s '''direct employer''' is “the"the person or institution with whom the worker enters directly into a work contract”contract". '''Indirect employers''' are other persons, groups and structures that affect or constrain the direct employer.

:{{quote|The concept of indirect employer includes both persons and institutions of various kinds, and also collective labour contracts and the principles of conduct which are laid down by these persons and institutions and which determine the whole socioeconomic system or are its result.... The indirect employer substantially determines one or other facet of the labour relationship.<ref>''Laborem Exercens'', §17</ref>}}

As one example, John Paul mentions manufacturing companies in developed countries that purchase raw materials from less developed countries. If the purchasers insist on the lowest possible prices, the workers in another part of the world are indirectly affected. To create labor policies that ensure justice for every worker, it is necessary not only to work with the direct employers, but also to identify and coordinate the indirect employers.

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===Full employment===

“We"We must first direct our attention to a fundamental issue: the question of finding work, or, in other words, the issue of suitable employment for all who are capable of it.” " The problem is not a lack of resources—“conspicuousresources—"conspicuous natural resources remain unused”—butunused"—but poor organization. The criterion of full employment will only be achieved through planning and coordination among all the indirect employers, and a better coordination of education with employment.<ref>''Laborem Exercens,'' §18</ref>

===Wages and benefits===

John Paul proposed a '''[[family wage]]''', i.e. enough to support the worker and his family, as a minimum. Women with children have a right either to stay home, or to work outside the home with accommodation for their family responsibility. He also recommended benefits including health insurance, pensions, accident insurance, weekends and vacations as part of a “correct"correct relationship between worker and employer.”"<ref>''Laborem Exercens,'' §19</ref>

===Unions===

John Paul re-asserted the importance of workers forming [[trade union|unions]]. This right is not limited to industrial workers, but belongs to every class and profession. He urges unions to view their struggle as a positive struggle for social justice, rather than a struggle against an opponent. He affirmed the right of unions to [[strike action|strike]]—“This—"This method is recognized by Catholic social teaching as legitimate in the proper conditions and within just limits”limits" — but “the"the strike weapon”weapon" is an extreme means that should rarely be used.<ref>''Laborem Exercens,'' §20</ref>

===Dignity of agricultural work===

The Pope asserted the dignity of agricultural workers, and some particular difficulties and injustices they face. These include greater isolation; hard physical toil; inadequate wages, benefits, and training; and oppression of those who actually cultivate the soil by wealthy landowners. “In"In many situations radical and urgent changes are therefore needed in order to restore to agriculture—and to rural people—their just value as the basis for a healthy economy, within the social community's development as a whole.”"<ref>''Laborem Exercens,'' §21</ref>

===Rights of disabled persons===

Persons with disabilities have the same [[disability rights movement|rights]] as other workers: “The"The disabled person is one of us and participates fully in the same humanity that we possess.”" The Pope acknowledged costs and other barriers, but believes these can be overcome when communities work together with worker’s rights being a priority.<ref>''Laborem Exercens,'' §22</ref>

===Emigration and work===