Catholic Social Teaching and Labour Law

Abstract

Abstract Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and Labour Law explores the contribution that religious ethics can bring to debates on justice in working life. The substantive provisions of labour law reflect prior ethical choices about how workers should be treated. Many faiths include beliefs about the significance of work to human development and the need for work to be performed under conditions that uphold dignity, equality, and solidarity. This book provides a thorough account of the reflection found in CST on human work and labour rights. It tests the contemporary relevance of its principles by applying them to current debates, using EU labour law as a case study. Specifically, it examines CST on the right to a just wage, the right to rest, worker participation, and equality and discrimination. The book finds that CST offers fresh insights on long-standing injustices in the labour market, such as low wages or poor working conditions, as well as shedding light on emerging challenges, such as ensuring rest in an era of digital connectivity. The book also recognizes that tensions arise in areas where the Church’s beliefs diverge from those that prevail in a secular understanding of human rights. This is particularly evident in debates relating to equality. It concludes that faith-based perspectives should be included in pluralistic dialogue on the future of labour law.