4. "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill
the earth and subdue it. Rule over the
fish of the sea and the birds of the air
and over every living creature that
moves on the ground."
Genesis 1:28
“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the
earth and subdue it.”
6. Personal Dignity
The Biblical call to “subdue the earth” and
to enable the human person to achieve
“dominion” over the earth gives dignity
to human work. Although work entails
heavy toil, it is a worthwhile effort as it
gives one a sense of fulfillment as a
human being.
7. Work and Family
Human work also makes possible,
the formation and upkeep of
family life, the achievement of
family
objectives
and
the
enrichment of the heritage of the
whole human race.
8. The Human Being as the
Subject of Work
The human person is the Subject and
thus has an ethical dimension, The
Person is important, a conscious free
person able to decide about self.
9. Technology as the Object of Work
The Human Being is a proper
subject of work because as
a person, work actions must
serve to realize one’s
humanity.
The human person cannot
become the slave of
machines.
10. Threat to right values
Today, human work is highly enhanced and
facilitated by modern technology. However,
the same technology also impedes creativity,
job
satisfaction,
responsibility
and
opportunities for employment. The Church in
the industrial are opposes all kinds of
materialistic and economistic thought
whereby the human person is treated as
“merchandise” rather than subject of work.
12. Task of the Church
• Since work involves the whole person in
both body and spirit, the Church looks into
the spiritual aspect thereof.
• All human activity should be in accord with
God’s will and human work shares in and
imitates God’s activity and gives dignity
13. Worker Solidarity
•
The Church also calls for workers’
solidarity to prevent human labour
from being degraded.
•
The Church is committed to the
poor.
14. CHRIST, the man of
work
• Jesus approved of the
different forms of human work
which reflected a human
person’s likeness to God.
15. Sharing in the
activity of the
Creator
• We are called through work to
building up the world that God
created.
16. The Cross and Resurrection of
Christ
• By enduring the toil of work, the
human person is united with
Christ in His sufferings.
17. Conflict between Labor & Capital
The Priority of Labor
• Priority of labor and capital
• Primacy of people over things
19. Economism and
Materialism
The human person is
above things and
capital and has thus to
be given the rightful
dignity and priority.
Materialism degrades
human labour.
20. Work and Ownership
The right ownership of property
should be subordinated to the
principle of common good.
The church also favors joint
ownership between proprietors
and laborers.
21. The “Personalist” Argument
The human person and one’s labour is
still more important than capital.
A means of being a sharer in
responsibility and creativity.
23. General
• The human person is obliged to
work
• One is entitled to rights connected
to human work
• Human work has thus to be seen in
the context of basic Human Rights
• These rights depend on the nature
of employment
24. The Employment Issue
• All workers have the right to suitable
employment
• Unemployment can be a social
disaster and suitable remedies
should be developed by every state
25. Wages and Social Benefits
• All workers have a right to just
renumeration
• Just renumeration is the key
issue of social ethics as it is a
practical means for people to
have access to goods intended
for the common use
26. • Workers should also be entitled to
social benefits such as:
Healthcare, right to rest,
pension and accident
insurance, and decent work
environment
27. The church calls for the following in
connection with the wages
• A. wages sufficient to support a
family
• Allowances to mothers raising a
family
• Re-evaluation of mother’s role to
ensure proper love for children
and fair opportunities for women
28. Importance of Unions
An important element for the security of
workers
Came about because of struggles for
social justice, workers needed a
mouthpiece
Unions bring about social order and
worker solidarity
Right to Strike- legitimate, not to be abused
and must not stray from specific roles
29. Work and the Disabled Person
Disabled persons are fully human
subjects
They have the right to work
(according to situation and
capability)
30. Work and Emigration
Right to emigrate in search of
better work
They should not be placed at a
disadvantaged position compared
with other workers
32. •It is God who ordered man to
work, to participate in his ongoing
creation. Human work is a duty.
•It is more than getting a salary,
for work makes the human person
useful. It gives dignity to the
human person.
33. •The dignity of workers is above
all else. The primacy of labor
over capital must always be
defended, but labor and capital
should go hand in hand.
•It is the right of workers to form
associations and to participate in
ownership, management and
profit.
34. work is not the ultimate goal but the glory of God.
