LETTERS: One of the core guiding principles of transformation and success is to learn about the dignity of persons and dignity of work.
We live in an age that has lost sight of true dignity of work precisely because we have lost sight of the dignity of the worker.
The late Pope John Paul II, in his introductory Encyclical letter entitled "On Human Work", wrote "work means any activity by man, whether manual or intellectual, whatever its nature and circumstances, it means any human activity that can and must be recognised as work, in the midst of many activities of which man is capable and to which he is predisposed by his very nature, by virtue of humanity itself".
To this day, men and women are often reduced to mere instruments in a society that has emphasised productivity over dignity of human persons and the workers.
The fact remains that everyone is a worker, irrespective of status, and every type work has its value in society.
Coming from the hotel industry, I see how housekeeping workers sweat and toil to keep the premises clean and sanitised.
They provide the value of health and safety which is not much appreciated due to labelling of status to the job concerned. They are paid a meagre salary resulting in high turnovers.
Looking at the Malaysian experience today, human capital and dignity has been reduced and categorised by status, type of jobs, without a clear vision that the value of work however mundane has its contribution to society.
A prime minister is a worker, a corporate elite is a worker, so is the person who cleans and washes.
A cleaner who does dirty and dangerous jobs, cannot be reduced to a so-called debate of whether to pay minimum wages. They need a career path and a dignified remuneration since they keep society safe and healthy.
A human being with talents and capabilities cannot be reduced to low skill jobs and paid a meagre salary, but rather should be trained and mentored for more senior positions.
It is not just about building human capability through work, it is also about building an eco-system of human rights where a worker flourishes in conditions of equity and fairness.
Towards this end where everyone is a dignified worker irrespective of status, it is imperative that political elites from the spectrum of the political divide start paying attention to the dignity of human persons and the dignity of work.
Currently, there is just too much focus on investment, trade and finance which has no value if people are merely regarded as instruments and machines and treated unfairly.
Therefore, the Association for Community and Dialogue (ACID) urges the prime minister to help initiate the formation of a bi-partisan committee to find ways to strengthen the dignity of human beings whatever their work.
Ronald Benjamin
Secretary, Association for Community and Dialogue
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times