The unemployed, disabled people and asylum seekers all deserve to be given the dignity they deserve while at the workplace, Archbishop Paul Cremona said yesterday.

Asylum seekers should not be exploited by employers and Mgr Cremona praised the two main trade unions for pledging to work on the issue. “It’s important they aren’t exploited at work and get what they deserve.”

During a homily at the courts to mark Workers Day, Mgr Cremona also spoke about unemployment, saying it was a “wound” and a challenge when a person could not find a job, and it “affected his dignity”.

Disabled people should also be given a chance of employment “so that we may see their ability”.

Mgr Cremona mentioned that the Employment and Training Corporation was working on a scheme for companies that employed disabled people.

Mgr Cremona said man had to work at building and creating things with what God had given him. Man cooperated with God to make something more comfortable by, for example, transforming a piece of wood into a bench. God wanted to send out the message that there was dignity in work. Jesus was the son of a carpenter and throughout his life he gave out this message, which often confused people.

God also wanted man to use the fruits of his work as offerings. “From wheat, man created and worked it into bread while grapes were worked into wine and these are offered to God,” Mgr Cremona said.

Christians had to see their work as one with God and it was important that it respected man’s dignity. “If someone’s work is not up to his dignity, then it is not according to what God wanted.” A balance also had to be found between work and the family. “If work is seen by Christians as being done in God’s name then it can’t clash with the family,” Mgr Cremona said.

He admitted that the issue of work-family balance always created a debate but pointed out that the two, especially when mothers worked, had to go together and not clash.

The element of justice was also closely linked to work as one could not have one without the other.

“Employers have to give their workers their due without exploiting them while employees need to work properly,” he added.