Exploring a just wage
The story of exploited garment workers bookends the latest issue of Working Notes from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. It explores the theme of a ‘just wage’ and ‘the just wage initiative’ from a social justice and theological perspective.
In his opening editorial Dr Kevin Hargaden, Director of JCFJ tells of his encounter with a young garment worker in a sweatshop in Bangladesh. He asks her what message she would like him to take back to the people he teaches or preaches to. “Tell them,” she said, “that my blood is on their clothes.” (Click here to listen to an interview with Kevin about his work there ») The last article in the publication is by doctoral student Céire Kealty who shares her research under the title, ‘Sewing Justice: A Theological Response to Garment Worker Exploitation.’ She says the cheap price of clothing is sustained at great cost to the industry workers, who are never seen by the buyer. “In the frenzy to consume, what do we fail to see?” she asks.
This edition of Working Notes also examines the utility of the ‘just wage tool’ and how it applies to Ireland today. To this end, the opening article is by Professors Dan Graff and Clemens Sedmak, well-known project leaders in this field who have been charting a path from ‘A Just Hope to a Just Wage’ economy,’ as the title of their article underscores.
Dr Laura Bambrick of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions explores how increasing the provision and quality of services for households can achieve what is actually desired in the quest for a just wage. The conversations about a ‘just wage’ can then justifiably be supplemented by what could be called a ‘social wage,’ which involves greater inclusivity and coverage.
What might a ‘just wage’ framework look like in rural Ireland? This question is addressed innovatively by Professor Emeritus Patrick Brereton, DCU, who offers different film depictions of Irish rural life to help readers reflect on the need for change in Irish industrial agriculture. Brereton leaves one in no doubt that “the race to the bottom of price, that leaves farmers overworked, under a burden of debt, and at the mercy of supermarket conglomerates, is not sustainable.”
Andreas Muller, Professor of Law at Basel University makes an invaluable contribution regarding the practical nature of the ‘just wage’ framework by detailing just how well its tenets sit within EU charters, protocols, and binding commitments.
You can click here to read more about the current issue of Working Notes », or to access individual articles.
