Migrant workers must not be exploited, taken advantage of and paid
less than a living wage.
That was the message of Bishop Thomas McMahon
of Brentwood at an annual Mass in support of migrant workers on Monday.
The
Mass, held at the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St George,
Southwark, London, on the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, was the sixth
Mass for Migrants organised by the Archdiocese of Westminster, the
Archdiocese of Southwark and the Diocese of Brentwood and supported by
their justice and peace commissions.
In a strongly worded
statement Bishop McMahon contrasted the focus of the churches, and
especially Catholic social teaching, on the person, calling for dignity
and justice for the worker, with the market which always focuses on
profit and how to maximise gain.
He quoted Pope Leo XIII calling
for a living wage as far back as 1891 in his enyclical Rerum Novarum,
when he spoke out against the treatment of labour as a commodity,
saying: “Wages ought not to be insufficient to support a frugal and good
wage earner. If through necessity or fear of a worse evil the worker
accepts harder conditions because an employer or contractor will afford
them no better, then the worker is made the victim of force and
injustice.”
Also in the 19th century Cardinal Henry Edward
Manning, known as the friend of workers, said: “A worker’s wage should
be sufficient to keep his wife and children, to provide them with decent
housing and a healthy diet and to educate them.”
The London
Citizens/Citizens UK living wage campaign celebrates its 10th
anniversary this year. Since its launch in 2001 the campaign has lifted
8,000 families out of working poverty and persuaded 140 companies and
organisations to pay the living wage.
Despite this progress, Bishop
McMahon said “it still remains a scandal and deeply unjust when ordinary
workers and especially migrant workers are exploited, taken advantage
of and paid less than a living wage. It affronts their dignity, their
self-worth and that of their families.”
He concluded by urging his audience of 1,500 people: “Take to the streets, raise our voices, and stand up for Gospel values.”
At
the Offertory, in addition to the bread and wine, migrant workers
brought symbols of their work such as hammers and briefcases.
The Mass
was concelebrated by Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark.
Over 50
priests, many from the 47 Catholic ethnic chaplaincies in London, took
part in the celebration of the Mass, which was followed by a march to
Westminster Central Hall.