Priests, Nuns Of Asansol Diocese Resolve To Treat Workers With Dignity By SAR NEWS
ASANSOL, West Bengal (SAR NEWS) -- Workers of the Church institutions and parishes of Asansol Diocese, cheer. For, the Catholic priests and nuns have vowed to shun flippancy towards their employees and treat them with dignity. The resolve emerged after 25 priests and 40 religious sisters working in the Diocese of Asanol in West Bengal attended a daylong session on ‘Dignity of Labour’, organised by the CBCI Labour Commission, at Loreto School, Asansol, June 27. Redemptorist Father Xavier Pinto was the resource person. The participants unanimously decided to treat the supporting staff in the parishes and institutions, namely the cooks, bearers, sacristans, drivers, cleaners and gardeners with respect and dignity. Fr. Pinto, who has championed the cause of the workers for nearly 30 years in different parts of the country, strongly condemned child labour and invited the participants to give due wages, provide opportunity for housing, recreation, medical and family support to workers in the Church-run institutions. “Charity should not lead to extracting work from children,” he cautioned. Recalling his encounter with workers in various Christian institutions, the Redemptorist priest asked the participants to promote the dignity of labour and support domestic workers. Citing statistics, Father Pinto said that in Delhi alone more than 50,000 domestic workers from the Chotanagpur belt were employed. “They need our moral support. The Church should cater to their pastoral, social and moral support on a priority basis.” Father Pinto dwelt at length on the social teachings of the Church vis-à-vis labour and the flight of migrant Indian workers in different parts of the world. He also expressed concern for the youth working in call centres. “Call centres have affected the life of the youth in major cities of India. We need to address this issue,” he added.
