Dignity of work and rights of workers - Assignment Example

Dignity of work and rights of workers [Accessed 12th January 2015]Pope Francis in chapter four of the Evangelii Gaudium critiques economic practices that dehumanize employees; especially the poor workers. The Pope asserts that the solution to inequality is thorough examination of the structures that promote inequality as opposed to the prevailing economic and financial conditions.2. Pope John Paul II (1981) "Laborem Exercens” Retrieved from < http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02le.hml > 12th January 2015]Pope John Paul II gives an in-depth insight into the concept of human dignity in work in this article.

The Pope puts an emphasis on the role of the church in upholding rights of workers, condemning those who violate these rights and providing a guide in matters regarding work and workers dignity. In the article, The Pope acknowledges work as the basis of man’s existence and survival in the world. He emphasizes on the spiritual aspect of work; through labor, man participates in God’s creation works3. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart USA Province (2009) Catholic Social Teaching Dignity of the Worker.

Retrieved from [Accessed 12th January 2015]The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart emphasize on dignity in work. They assert that human beings partake in God’s work of creation by working. The workers apply their God-given gifts and talents in the work they do and should, therefore, be accorded their rights and privileges. They further urge employers to put up structures that grant the workers their rights and dignity workers at work. They advocate favorable working conditions, fair hiring and placement practices, just wages and an end to discrimination as a way of upholding the dignity of the workersPart 2: Selected QuoteCharity “is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones)” (Pope Francis,2013, pg.205).This quote in Pope Francis’s Evangelii Gaudium caught my attention, and I took time to give thought to it.

I always have, for a long time associated charity with the phrase charity begins at home, and I have never visualized the bigger picture out of the phrase. It is indeed true that charity extends beyond family or small groups to larger circumstances involving socio-economic and political relations.Part 3: Reflection/Media SearchThe literal works of Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis on work and dignity of the workers have made me reminisce about events that happened to one of my cousins. My Cousin Beatrice had for a long time looked up for employment opportunities in her field of study to no avail.

Beatrice had always performed well in her studies, eventually graduating with an honors degree in hotel management. After graduation, she applied for employment and internship positions and was lucky to secure an internship at one of the local hotels which only lasted for a couple of months.It was after a period of two years that she received information about job opportunities in her area of specialization, but the jobs were being offered in a foreign country. The handsome pay for the job coupled up with her accumulating desperation made her accept the job and pack up her belongings and venture into the new land.

Beatrice’s stay in the foreign country was contrary to what she had expected. Despite the fact that her earnings were good, she was subjected to discrimination on the basis of being a foreigner. She was also overworked and was not accorded with most of her fundamental human rights while at the workplace. The frustrations, she and her colleagues were subjected to at work, made them register complaints to the labor authorities in the country. This later saw the set-up and implementation of policies regarding human rights protection of employees.

Part 4: Discussion questionFrom the Evangelii Gaudium(Pope Francis,2013) arises a controversial question that needs to be subjected to thorough discussion. The Pope contends that global poverty can only be solved by “rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation.” This statement raises controversy because markets in the world are controlled by the governments in which they operate in. The rules and regulations controlling the markets differ from one government to the other.

The practicability of the statement is therefore debatable.ReferencesMissionaries of the Sacred Heart USA Province (2009) Catholic Social Teaching Dignity of the Worker. Retrieved from [Accessed 12th January 2015]Pope Francis (2013)Evangelii Gaudium Ch. IV #202 Retrieved from < http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html > [Accessed 12th January 2015]Pope John Paul II (1981) "Laborem Exercens” Retrieved from < http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02le.

hml > 12th January 2015]