Dignity in labour

One of the earliest Christian maxims I learnt was “Work is prayer”. There is another one which says a lazy man cannot eat. These are such important values for me that hard work has always been my mantra no matter what I am doing. The value of hard work can never be overemphasised. While you may not always be able to measure your own hard work but often leave it to your boss or establishment, however you have a general idea if you are giving nothing to your establishment or if you are not working hard enough. You will know pretty much if you are not bringing it.

St Joseph who is a model worker was a carpenter and his son Jesus worked with him for thirty years while building his ministry. This son was Jesus; his father was Joseph the carpenter. The eighth prayer in the novena to St Joseph in the St Joseph oratory in Montreal, Canada reads in part,

“St Joseph, teach us to l Love our own work so that it might be for us a source of fulfilment and happiness. May we do our work with justice and honesty.  May we see a job well done as an expression of love for God. Following your example, may we welcome God’s son wherever we find ourselves at work.”

Over time the dignity of labour is sliding to the bottom of the ladder in Nigeria. Working hard is considered mumu behaviour and people approach their jobs with a lukewarm attitude. They are at their duty posts daydreaming or doing something else. Recently a friend told me he is unable to deal with people who play computer games in the office space. Abroad, you cannot take your phone to work because you must give your employer his due and he must give you your due wages. As the bible says, the labourer is worthy of his wages and workers are worthy of their pay. But the worker must also give to Ceaser what is due him by ensuring that he gives his employer what is expected of him/her.

In Nigeria today, people have poor work ethics. In the past, a driver would be proud of his job as was a carpenter or a vegetable trader. Today everyone wants to be a millionaire as if that were a profession. Nobody wants to work hard to earn a decent pay and even those working hard are not getting their correct wages as employers harangue and short change their employees. It’s amazing how things have continued to change in the workers community. I have seen over time how some construction workers in Nigeria treat their staff poorly and how work accidents involving equipment in the work place are treated with levity by companies and employers. A man loses his arm and no one wants to compensate him. A woman is retired prematurely and the employer pretends he does not understand. There are so many labour laws that can be activated to give the worker his due as there are many laws that give employers relief in the worker- employer relationship. Always read what your labour relations are in your office.

Today the world has taken a turn for the worst when you see how sweatshops in Asia hire thousands of people for a ridiculous wage and put them in inhuman conditions to produce garments and products for big garment companies in Europe. Daily, we hear of collapsed buildings or a fire killing many factory workers. It is sad that in a bid to make money, we forget the right of workers, often migrant workers just looking for work under any condition and the poor and downtrodden of these countries who have no voice.

In the fishing industry in some parts of the world, migrant workers on boats and trawlers work night and day with little or no wages and when they demand better wages and better conditions, they are thrown into the sea to be eaten by sharks. It is treacherous out there.

In the perfume industry in parts of North Africa, children as young as ten are made to pick the flower buds at the crack of dawn because it requires gently handling to preserve the buds for the perfumery. What about human trafficking where young girls are forced into prostitution and young boys are engaged in forced labour. It’s a dog’s life out there. Be grateful for your job and do it well and employers do give your employees their requisite wages. There is nothing as beautiful as working as if it were play. This happens when you enjoy what you do.

The worker keeps the nation going. Where will Nigeria be without the civil servants and all those who sacrifice for the nation to move forward. Nigeria has some of the most brilliant workforce in the world both in the public and private sector but we need to apply our skills and knowledge towards a better Nigeria.   

Celebrating workers day important; let all workers raise their glass and let all employers celebrate their workers. Happy Workers day to all Nigerian workers!