Tagle on workers’ plight: There is no room for exploitation

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. (Photo from a TV Maria livestream video )

In his Labor Day message, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said that “there is no room for exploitation” in working conditions for all laborers.

In a statement on Tuesday, Tagle said that labor, and all problems surrounding it. “should be approached in a holistic way.”

The archbishop also stressed that it should not be seen “simply in a financial or economic terms. Work is not solely a task accomplished, a merchandised produced, or a target profit reached.”

“Work is fundamentally what happens to the human person: the active mind, the sweaty brow, the fractured hand, the aching back, the grumbling stomach, the anxious heart, the zealous spirit, the dreams fulfilled,” Tagle said.

“Genuine working conditions are fostered not simply by transactions but by a covenant relationship between partners who respect and protect everyone’s dignity. In a covenant relationship, there is no room for exploitation,” he said.

The Church, Tagle, said, has always recognized labor as “a key aspect of human existence and human development.”

“Through our work, we share in the creative activity of God. Work is a fundamental right of every person. It is linked to human dignity. It is crucial to human growth and fulfillment,” Tagle said.

“We are convinced that by seeking the common good, focusing on the integral development of each person, and crafting policies that promote a more inclusive, responsible and equitable society, we can overcome obstacles and transform our world of work into one that is grounded on social justice, respect and love,” he said. /jpv