The National Commission for Justice and Peace (CNJP) warned on Monday that “the salary of many Portuguese workers does not allow them to get out of poverty.”
For the CNJP, a body dependent on the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP), “changing this situation must be a true national objective that mobilizes civil society and political authorities”.
“Businessmen and workers are obliged to make efforts to improve productivity and professional training. But the appreciation of wages also depends on a fairer distribution of incomethe attribution of a greater part of this income to work”, defended the Commission chaired by Pedro Vaz Patto, in a note about the conference that will be held in Lisbon on January 21, under the slogan “Fair wages against poverty – Workers and Christian Entrepreneurs in Dialogue”.
For the CNJP, it is important to “highlight the importance of this dialogue between Christian workers and businessmen”, assuming that “the common inspiration in the principles of the social doctrine of the Church cannot fail to translate into some forms of consensus”. .
“The principles of the Church’s social doctrine are most topical. that should inspire the issue of fair wages as a way of overcoming poverty. These principles are based on the primacy of the person. The economy, business and work must be at the service of people, not the other way around. Salary equity does not necessarily result from the consent of the parties and from the rules of the market,” added the statement released today.
According to the National Commission for Justice and Peace, “the creation and maintenance of jobs is a way of carrying out the social function of private property and the universal destination of goods. In the fight against poverty, the creation of fairly paid jobs is essential, rather than the allocation of state subsidies”.
The Annual Conference of the CNJP takes place starting at 9:30 am on Saturday, at the Franciscan Cultural Center, in alliance with Cáritas Portuguesa, the Christian Workers Movement (LOC-MTC), the Catholic Workers Youth (JOC), the Christian Association of Entrepreneurs and Managers (ACEGE), Rural Catholic Action (ACR) and the Movement of Catholic Professionals (Metanoia).
“Adequate income in Portugal” and “Fair wages against poverty” will be two of the topics to be discussed in the works inaugurated by the Bishop of Santarém and president of the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral and Human Mobility, José Traquina.
Source: Observadora
