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Laborers deprived of fruit of their Work
April 30, 2006 - This was the statement of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines, who bewailed that "in the Philippines those who are in the labor force are oftentimes deprived of the just share of the fruits of their work."
In his blog posted on the eve of the celebration of Labor Day, Lagdameo said that the dignity of work comes from the laborers themselves and not from capital which is controlled by capitalists. In line with the thoughts of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines he advances the "priority of labor over capital."
Citing Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII, Lagdameo, however, holds that capital cannot stand without labor and neither can labor stand without capital. "Labor and capital depend on each other. Their relationship should be one of interdependence and complementariness, if they are to effectively serve the integral welfare of society. Economic progress is the joint work of both capital and labor. It would be unjust for either labor or capital to arrogate unto itself the contribution of both," he said.
The conflict, competition and antagonism between labor and capital in history have proven disastrous to society, especially the poor. This is the reason why, according to Lagdameo, the principle of collaboration instead of class struggle must be the fundamental means for social change where the rights of the weak, the dignity of the poor and the obligation of capitalists must be taken in the account in the just ordering of society.
Labor day, says Lagdameo, is an occasion to recognize how much the government depend on labor as the efficient cause of progress and development. It is also a happy opportunity for labor and capital or the government to express their need for each other in the pursuit of the good of the country.
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