On the 109th anniversary of the founding of the International Labour Organization, Pope Francis issued a video message emphasizing the importance of workers’ rights, including every worker in various jobs, especially the hope of economic recovery after the epidemic.
(Vatican News Network)On the occasion of the 109th anniversary of the founding of the International Labour Organization, Pope Francis released a video message praising the organization’s “commendable work in paying special attention to our most vulnerable brothers and sisters” in recent months.
The Pope first pointed out that when we seek solutions to economic activities after the pandemic, we should avoid any form of discrimination, as well as “consumerism” or “national nationalism.” “We must find solutions to help us build a new working future based on decent and dignified working conditions”, and it should always “promote common well-being”.
The Pope reminded that, in fact, immigrants and other disadvantaged workers and their families are “usually excluded from access to national health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and care, economic protection plans and psychosocial services”. This exclusion makes it difficult to respond to the new crown epidemic, increases the risk of an outbreak, and poses an additional threat to public health.
Then, the Pope emphasized that “calling everyone to work together to serve the common good is the basic mission of the church” to “build and consolidate peace and trust among all people”, and that the most vulnerable cannot be “set aside” in dialogue. In this regard, “all Christian and other religious groups must participate together.” The Catholic Church has a long experience in participating in dialogue and is willing to contribute to the world as a bridge builder to “help create and promote dialogue.”
“The protection of workers and the most vulnerable groups must be ensured by respecting their basic rights,” including the right to organize trade unions. The Pope explained that the most vulnerable groups “should not be negatively affected by accelerated recovery measures that focus solely on economic indicators”. Therefore, “we also need economic system reform, a deep reform of the economy; the way the economy operates must be different, and must also be changed.”
“I feel that being good for me is a good life; if you are good for me, everything will be good”, this is a virus that continues to spread. Since then, “we will start and end our work by choosing this and abandoning that.” “Rejecting the poor and sacrificing those who lag behind is a source of true elitism. It creates a new elite class at the cost of abandoning many people and many nations.”
Looking to the future, it is essential that the Church, the Holy See, and the International Labor Organization act together to support measures to correct unjust or incorrect conditions that affect labor relations.
The Pope said: “We are all fragile, but at the same time valuable. We hope that what happens around us will shake us deep in our hearts. The time has come to eliminate inequality and heal the injustices that damage the health of the human family.”
The Pope pointed out that in order to promote joint action, work must be understood correctly. The first element of this understanding is to understand all forms of work, “including non-standard forms of employment.” Today, work goes beyond “formal employment” in the traditional sense. The lack of social security for workers and their families in the informal or hidden economy makes them “unable to rely on the protection provided by social insurance or social assistance programs aimed at solving poverty problems”. The Pope emphasized: “We must ensure that social security benefits the hidden economy, and pay special attention to the special needs of women and girls.”
The second element of a correct understanding of work must include the extent of care. The Pope explained: “Works that do not care for, destroy created things, endanger the survival of future generations, and do not respect the dignity of workers, these cannot be regarded as decent jobs.” On the contrary, “work that is caring and contributes to the restoration of human dignity. , It will help ensure a sustainable future for future generations.”
Subsequently, the pope turned the topic to political leaders and all those working in government departments, asking them to “always get inspiration from political charity.” He reminded business people that their true mission is to “create wealth for all”, and business ability is a gift from God, and “should always clearly face the development of others, especially by creating diversified job opportunities to eradicate poverty.”
The Pope also called on union members and union leaders to “don’t let yourself be shackled” and to pay attention to the real situation of their neighbors and groups when resolving broader economic policies and “macro relations”. The Pope said that the trade union must also guard the wall of the city of work, just like guarding and protecting the people in the city of work, and at the same time guarding and protecting the people outside the city.
Finally, the Pope encouraged all participants to show that the church supports them and walks with them.”
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