In the Catholic Church, work is “any sustained
effort extended for a purpose – effort that makes a difference in the world”
(Windley-Daoust and Kilmartin 173). According to Catholic Social Teaching, work
has the potential to be very good, and its value is measured by whether it
promotes the human dignity of the worker. Good work promotes human dignity
because it enables people to live and serves as a reflection of God’s work of
creation. However, work fails to promote human dignity when workers are
exploited and denied their basic rights (Windley-Daoust and Kilmartin). This is
especially true of child labor. A recent article by the Philippines’ Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE) found that there are an estimated 5 to 5.7
million children working in the Philippines, most of whom labor in commercial
and industrial sectors (The Philippines). Many of these children fall victim to
poor working conditions and unsuitable pay, making it impossible for them to
help support their families. The children are often exploited and taken
advantage of because of their age, thus demeaning the value of work and all
that it stands for. Through promoting the Catholic Social Teaching principle
of the dignity of work and the rights of workers, the Filipino Church can work
toward fostering human dignity and thus resolving the issue of child labor.
The things necessary for dignified work are known
as the rights of workers, and include rights such as a decent and fair pay, a
safe workplace, and anything else necessary for the basic health of workers
(Windley-Daoust and Kilmartin). Through child labor, young children are denied
these basic rights. Many children in the Philippines are forced to work under
horrible conditions. For example, children in agriculture are exposed to heavy
loads, chemicals, and natural elements such as rain and strong winds. Those who
work in the fishing industry suffer from ruptured hearing and face drowning or
shark attacks. Child laborers who work in factories risk being injured by heavy
machinery, and are not given protective mechanisms such as gloves and masks to
shield them from harm (ILO-IPEC). These working conditions do not promote the
dignity of the workers, which is one of Catholic Social Teaching’s principle
guidelines. About 86 percent of the Filipino community is Roman Catholic,
making it the predominant religion of the country and the only Christian nation
in Asia (Miller). In utilizing the principles of Catholic Social Teaching the Filipino
Church can work toward improving the conditions under which children work, thus
granting them their rightful human dignity and moving closer toward the
elimination of child labor as a whole.
In addition to the terrible working environments
that children in the Philippines must endure, they also suffer significant
exploitation by their employers. Due to their passive demeanor and young age,
child laborers are given long hours of work, insufficient rest periods, and
extremely low wages (ILO-IPEC). On average, they work from four to six hours a
day and earn less than 1,000 Philippine pesos a month, which is equivalent to a
mere 25 U.S. dollars. A significant number, about 55.7%, do not even get paid because
employers do not recognize their contributions to the total production efforts
of their families (ILO-IPEC). Forcing children to work against their will,
especially those who engage in atrocious acts such as human trafficking,
demeans their sense of character and takes away from their human dignity as a
whole. Child labor also has notable psychosocial effects because it distorts
the child’s values and leads to loss of dignity and self-confidence (ILO-IPEC).
No living being should have to endure this type
of suffering, and it is the duty of the Catholic Church to make sure that the
human dignity of all remains intact. In order to do this, the Filipino Church
must spread the principles of Catholic Social Teaching to the Filipino
community. Once informed, the community as a whole can take steps to ensure that
everyone is being given the rights they deserve. Educating the general public
on the evils of child labor will help improve their understanding of the
problem, thus making it easier to find a solution (ILO-IPEC). Although the
issue of child labor certainly will not go away overnight, the Church can attempt
to prevent the problem by incorporating Catholic law and morals into society
and promoting its beliefs throughout the entire Filipino nation.
Works Cited:
"International Labour
Organization-International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
(ILO-IPEC)." ILO. Philippine ILO, 1998. Web. 29 Apr. 2012.
<http://ipecphils.tripod.com/phillaws/intro.htm>.
Miller, Jack.
"Religion in the Philippines." Asia Society. 2012. Web. 12 May
2012. <http://asiasociety.org/countries/religions-philosophies/religion-philippines>.
"The
Philippines." ILAB - United States Department of Labor. U.S.
Department of Labor. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/media/reports/iclp/sweat/philippines.htm>.
Windley-Daoust,
Jerry, and Lorraine Kilmartin. Living Justice and Peace: Catholic Social
Teaching in Practice. Winona, MN: Saint Mary's, 2008. Print.
I strongly agree with Ally’s view that the general public must be more educated on these issues. Change can always come about if the masses are truly moved and dedicated to the cause. I believe that to implement the ideas that Ally talks about, the Church within the Philippines must put in a solid effort to solve the problem of child labor. If the clergy takes a firm stand on the issue and starts a large movement to spread the beliefs of Catholic Social Teaching, the masses will definitely follow in the Church’s footsteps. More than 86% of the population within the Philippines is Roman Catholic, so the efforts of the Church would definitely have a strong impact (Miller). If the Church steps up its part in the problem, the public will definitely be persuaded. The atrocities committed against children as a result of the labor system within the country largely go against basic Catholic teachings, and if the problem is emphasized and publicized, real change can occur.
ReplyDeleteSources:
Miller, Jack. "Religion in the Philippines." http://www.seasite.niu.edu. AskAsia, 1996. Web. 29 Apr. 2012.
While Ally is correct in saying that “it is the duty of the Catholic Church to make sure that the human dignity of all remains intact” they cannot do this by directly spreading Catholic Social teachings throughout the country. This is because of the strong cultural traditions that some Filipinos are not willing to change (The Philippine Campaign). By pushing these teachings on them they may just rebel against the Church. The Church needs to protect human dignity by sending organizations to bring relief to these countries. A great relief program that can be used to help the Philippines is the Catholic Relief Services. They have agricultural programs in the Philippines which lift small-scale farmers from poverty by linking them to more profitable markets (Philippines). This improves the country's economy and will divert the focus off of child labor. By sending programs into the Philippines instead of direct missionaries they will be effectively helping the country without disrupting its culture.
ReplyDeleteThe Philippine Campaign. "International Labour Organization-International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO-IPEC)." ILO. 1998. Web. 04 May 2012.
"Philippines." Catholic Relief Services. Web. 14 May 2012
I agree completely with Ally's points and solution. The best way to resolve the issue of child labor is to educate the Filipino people on the justices brought forth by Catholic Social Teaching. Thus preachers should be sent to the Philippines to explain the most crucial points, such as every person is valued as they are made in the image of God. This states that people are more important than work and no job is worth putting even a single human life at risk (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). Plus, the people of the Philippines need to acknowledge that work is more than a way to make a living, as it is a form of ongoing participation in God’s creation. So since child labor in the Philippines threatens the safety of human lives and does allow children to participate in the will of God, it would be very effective if missionaries were sent to this country to help teach the people how to integrate Catholic beliefs in society and rid of the issue overall.
ReplyDeleteSources:
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. 12 May. 2012.
Taking into account the responses of my peers, I now see that more can be done to combat the issue of child labor in the Philippines. While I still feel that upholding the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in society is the most effective solution, I realize that other steps can be taken in order to make a difference. For example, Catholic missionaries can be used to appeal to the masses, who will be motivated to get involved upon hearing of the evils of child labor and the exploitation of children. As long as the public is informed of the issue, measures can be taken to solve it. The Filipino clergy should also get involved in order to motivate the masses to follow in their footsteps. In addition, organizations can be established to provide relief to the country. All of these factors are very effective and can be used together to work toward the eventual elimination of child labor.
ReplyDelete