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During this year’s Real Living Wage week we wanted to share some of the strong and unequivocal statements from the Church on the need for a living wage to ensure dignity and respect in the world of work.
Pope Leo XIII began this tradition back in 1891.
Since then, this position has been reinforced time and again. Pope Pius in 1931 is one such example.
The YCW is a proud Real Living Wage accredited employer. It is a key foundation for the dignity of work respect for the worker.
In April 2016 the government introduced a higher minimum wage rate for all staff over 25 years of age inspired by the Living Wage campaign - even calling it the ‘national living wage’. However, this wage is not calculated according to what employees and their families need to live.
The Real Living Wage rates are higher because they are independently-calculated based on what people need to get by. That's why the YCW supports it and wants to encourage all employers that can afford to do so to ensure their employees earn a wage that meets the costs of living, not just the government minimum.
The latest rate has now been published at £11.05 for London and £9.90 for the rest of the UK.
In August 2020 the YCW was accredited as a Real Living wage Employer by the Living Wage Foundation. On top of this, in October 2021, we gained accreditation as a Real Living Hours Employer. To read more about what this means, click the link here: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-hours
National President Marc Besford said: “The YCW in England and Wales wants to engage every young person to make their voice heard. It is particularly important for young people, who have the right to a living wage but are currently denied even the Government’s ‘national living wage’. We already know that young people have suffered greatly in the world of work as a result of the pandemic and the risk is that many young people will be left behind. This will be a top issue we discuss at our upcoming National Council.”
We also have an updated resource for YCW and IMPACT! Groups to use.
The 10th International Council of the International Coordination of Young Christian Workers (ICYCW) was held from the 18th July until 23rd July 2021 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Due to the ongoing risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, delegates from YCW movements around the world gathered virtually under the theme “In search of a better life”.
Over all 30 National Movements where represented and these include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Kinshasa, Congo Brazaville, Ivory Coast, England & Wales, Spain, Ethiopia, France, Guinee Conakry, Mauritius, Rodrigues, India, Italy, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Paraguay, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Chad, Uganda and Cambodia.
See
During the congress, the young delegates were able to share their experiences of working life, including what motivates them and what makes them happy. They shared their concerns regarding the future of work. Several concerns were raised about the following issues:
· The instability associated with the migration of young workers.
· The exploitation of young workers, particularly those in part-time employment.
· The threat of unemployment and financial instability brought about due to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for young women and migrant workers.
· The struggle for migrant workers to access necessities such as food, water and shelter.
· An increase in work-based and education inequality and instances of violence against young women.
· A decrease in trade union membership amongst young workers, leaving them without the necessary support and protection in their places of work.
Delegates from national YCW movements had the opportunity to exchange with one another to learn about the reality of the YCW in different parts of the world. This activity led to the realisation of THE commonality of Issues faced by young workers across the globe.
Judge
In the meeting the delegates reflected on the inherent dignity of work. Work is much more than a source of financial income; it is an integral part of human identity. It is for this reason that the ICYCW continues its commitment to promote decent employment for all. The Church reaffirms the dignity of the worker in its social teaching. St Pope John Paul II wrote of work as the means by which people can achieve fulfilment and become “more a human being”. Cardinal Joseph Cardijn once said, “Each young worker is worth more than all the gold in the world because they are the sons and daughters of God.”
Act
The ICYCW therefore continues its call to employers and governments across the world to ensure that all young workers receive the following basic rights:
· To be treated with dignity and respect.
· To be sufficiently paid for the work that they do.
· To be provided with adequate training.
· To have a sufficient work/life balance.
· To be given the freedom for assembly in trade unions.
Inspired by this gathering, the movements of the ICYCW commit themselves to:
· Increase the support and provision for young migrant workers.
· Encourage young workers to engage in entrepreneurial activities, to support governments and stakeholders in creating more job opportunities.
· Support the promotion of decent work and a ‘living wage’ for all young workers.
· Support young workers in recognising their rights and encouraging them to join trade unions.
· Encourage international solidarity by utilising technology to connect with other young workers from around the world.
Conclusion
In his recent encyclical letter to young people, Christus Vivit, Pope Francis said, “Do not wait until tomorrow to contribute your energy, your audacity and your creativity to changing our world. You are the NOW of God, and he wants you to bear fruit!”. Inspired by the expressions of faith and solidarity shared in the 10th International Council, the ICYCW looks to the future with hope. In his address to the delegates of the Council, Pope Francis prayed that the delegates would go out to inspire other young people to commit to charitable service of their brothers and sisters. The ICYCW commits itself to respond to this invitation across the world.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed towards the success of the 10th International Council of ICYCW.
Last week, saw the Caritas Social Action Network of England and Wales hold their leadership conference at Hinsley Hall in Leeds for the leaders of the various member organisations, including the YCW.
The conference was centered around the theme: “the social mission of the Church in a Covid-impacted society” and heard from speakers such as Raymond Friel, the new CEO of CSAN; Professor Jim McManus, Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire and adviser to the Bishops' Conference on Covid-secure worship; Dr Clare Watkins, Reader in Ecclesiology at Roehampton University; and Fr Jan Novotnik, Director of Mission at the Bishops' Conference.
The conference began by exploring the mission of the Church to further the kingdom of God in this life and to contribute to the liberation from everything that oppresses people. The delegates considered the strategic objectives of CSAN in this context, with an emphasis on developing leadership alliances, offering new programmes in formation and raising a prophetic voice in the public arena.
Very much in line with the YCW “See-Judge-Act” Method the delegates were asked to "see" in the current Covid pandemic the clearer examples of deeply-rooted inequality in our society. This was followed by a “judge” session on discernment in the light of the Gospel, what is the Spirit saying to us about what we see, how can we faithfully read the signs of the times?
In discussing how the delegates can “act” in response to this, Fr Jan Novotnik provided an overview of the synodal process which is just getting underway in the Church. He outlined that this was an opportunity for a new way of being Church, based on dialogue with each other and deep listening to the Holy Spirit.
Marc Besford, President of the YCW, attended the Conference and said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to come together and discuss these really important issues. Our world has been impacted massively by Covid and many of the issues discussed at the conference will be directly relevant to young people. I was therefore pleased to be there and help share some of the reality facing many YCW leaders.”
