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CHRISTIANS APPROACHES TO ISSUES RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT
Wages and industrial action (Strikes)
A wage is payments for work done. Payment is in modern times done according to hours, weeks or days that one works.
Christian teachings on wages
– Human beings have the right to work for a decent living (Matt.20:1 – 16) they should be paid for their work.
– Workers should be paid wages to the amount and value of their work (1 Timothy 5:18)
– Wages should be paid as agreed upon (Mathew 20:13)
– Employers should not take advantage of the poverty of the employee (Deuteronomy 24: 14 – 15)
– Human beings should not be enslaved to work (Ex.5:22 – 23)
– Employers who degrade their workers in wages are condemned (Deut.24:14 – 15, Jer.22:13)
– Oppression is condemned (Amos 5:18, 8; 4)
– Workers wages should never be withheld (James 5:4)
Industrial action
Also commonly called ‘Strike’ this is an effort by workers to stop work in protest by boycott go-slow sit – ins or refuse to work. There has been increase of industrial action in the recent past in most countries of the world.
Reasons for industrial actions
1 Due to increased awareness of workers’ rights
2 Exposure to global trends through the media
3 Formation of trade unions that fight for the rights of workers
4 Due to poor working conditions
5 Underpaying workers
6 Threatening workers with unjustified dismissals
7 Suspending the workers / interdiction – unjustly
8 A hostile working environment
Results of workers strikes (industrial / action
a) Pay cuts
b) Demotions
c) Loss of jobs
d) Employers suffer losses
e) Inflation
f) Injuries even death when confronted by police
g) Victimization of some individuals
h) Bitterness among the workers and employers
Christian approaches towards strikes
a) Christians recommend a peaceful co – existence between workers and employers
b) There should be fairness, justice, love among workers, employees
c) There should be an open communication channel across the ranks from top to bottom
d) Employees should not destroy property
e) Working conditions should be better and improved
f) Employees to be human when dealing with employees
CHILD LABOUR
A child is a person below 18 years. A child does not have an identity card, does not vote (in Kenya).
According to International Labor Organization the minimum employment age is 14 years.
Child labor
It is engaging a person below the age of 14 years in wage / paid employ-ment.
Reasons why children are employed
– To provide cheap labor
– They cannot fight for proper terms
– They are easily hired and fired
Disadvantages of child labor
Children are not yet mentally and physically prepared to do adult jobs. This leads to
a) Exploitation of children
b) Children paid less, taken advantage of
c) It inhibits the growth of a child and denies them a chance to enjoy their childhood
d) It deprives them of their right to basic education
e) It exposes children to hazards (dangers) from machines, chemicals
f) Heavy workload deprives children of social educational, moral, psychological, physical rights
Places where children are employed
– Plantations – coffee, tea
– Domestic services – homes
– Tourism sector
– Industries
– Children are trafficked and employed as commercial sex workers
Causes of child labor – reasons why children work
1 Lack of money / poverty
2 Death of parents
3 Dropping out of school due to pregnancy, indiscipline, (truancy), poor academic performance or lack of school fees.
4 Those who never went or taken to school
5 Lack of good role models e.g. coast province Mombasa; Malindi has several of the financially stable people being school dropouts, engaged in drug trafficking, commercial sex etc.
6 Influence of cultural values e.g. circumcision of boys in some communities is done later in life and one is declared an adult e.g. the kikuyu circumcising at 13 years, or 12 years
7 Children being lured by employers
8 Greed for material benefits
9 Being homeless ending up as a street child
Position of church in dealing with child labor
– The church condemns it
– It has put up homes for poor children (orphanages)
– It provides guidance, counseling to both parents and children
– Children are blessing from God hence should be loved and cared for
– Parents have the responsibilities to protect their children from harm.
UNEMPLOYMENT AND SELF –EMPLOYMENT
When people are capable and willing to work but are unable to find a viable income or occupation it is referred to as unemployment.
Causes of unemployment
1 Preference for prestigious white collar jobs (Office jobs, non – manual jobs)
2 Corruption, tribalism, nepotism, bribery denying jobs to the qualified in preference for the unqualified.
3 Unequal distribution of wealth – some regions are more resourceful than others. Industries, good infrastructure concentrated in some areas.
4 Inadequate resources for self – employment (lack of capital, skills)
5 Limited job opportunities – probably due to high population growth
6 Few international investors in Kenya, probably due to high crime rate, insecurity
Identify ways of creating job opportunities
Response of Christians to issues of unemployment
a) They encourage self – employment in cases of unemployment
b) They have set up vocational training, polytechnics to train people towards jobs that are for self – employment
c) Christians condemn idleness
Self-employment
Self-employment is an economic activity initiated, controlled by an individual. It is an occupation in which a person initiates a personal enterprise and manages it with the help of others.
Examples
Small businesses enterprises, Jua kali sector, music industry, entertainment (e.g. comedians), community work, agriculture etc
Problems / challenges
– Some lack sufficient capital to start a business and keep it running
– Lack of necessary skills to run the business
– High taxation leading to some business closing down
– Small scale traders face undue competition from larger firms
Revision questions
1. What is work?
2. List any six reasons why people work
3. Explain T.As attitude towards work
4. List some of the factors that have changed the attitude towards work in the modern society
5. What are the rights of employers?
6. State the duties of employees
7. Why has child labor become common in Kenya?
8. What are the causes of unemployment in Kenya?
9. What can the government do to reduce unemployment in Kenya?
