Catholic Social Teaching and Labour Law: An Ethical Perspective on Work

Catholic Social Teaching and Labour Law explores the contribution of religious ethics to debates on justice in working life, examining how labour law reflects prior ethical choices and how beliefs from Catholicism influence these. It provides a thorough account of CST principles and their impact on human work and labour rights, testing their contemporary relevance using EU labour law as a case study. It finds that CST offers fresh insights on long-standing injustices and emerging challenges, but tensions arise in areas where the Church's beliefs diverge from those that prevail in a secular understanding of human rights. Faith-based perspectives should be included in pluralistic dialogue on the future of labour law.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 23 November 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Catholic Social Teaching and Labour Law delves into the role of religious ethics in shaping discussions on justice in the workplace. Numerous faiths emphasize the importance of work for human development and advocate for conditions that uphold dignity, equality, and solidarity. This book explores how labour law reflects prior ethical decisions regarding worker treatment and how Catholicism influences these principles. It provides a comprehensive overview of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and its impact on human work and labour rights. By applying CST to contemporary debates, particularly within the European Union's labour law framework, the book assesses its contemporary relevance. It examines CST's stance on issues such as the right to a just wage, the right to rest, worker participation, and equality and discrimination. The book identifies fresh insights into long-standing labour market injustices, such as low wages or poor working conditions, and sheds light on emerging challenges, such as ensuring rest in the digital age. It acknowledges that tensions arise when the Church's beliefs diverge from those prevalent in a secular understanding of human rights, particularly in discussions related to equality. The book concludes that faith-based perspectives should be included in pluralistic dialogue on the future of labour law.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198873754