is it a sin to oppress wages?

Question

there are many people that say minimum wage hurts small business, but it is a Greater Evil to inflate the cost of living and refuse a living wage.
but in james ch. 5 it clearly says that oppression of wages in indeed a sin. Do you agree with me?

in the 1970's a minimum wage was about $1.50 more or less. in the 1980's minimum wage was about 3.34, in the state of washington. in the 1990's it became 5.15, some states still declare it. Some states have laws that replace tips with minimum wages.
on minimum wage a person could make 400 dollars a month in the 1980's. and only pay half or less for rent. For a 125 $ i could pay rent and electricity.
Now, to pay rent and electricity a person uses 3/4 of his monthy income even though the amount of income has double for minimum wages.
this is inflation without the ability to pay because wage is oppressed and deflated.
who is to blame?
thus it is written the rich get richer and poor get nothing at all.

Answer 1

Yes, the suppression of wages is a sin. The catholic Church teaches that businesses should provide their workers with a liveable wage.

Catholic Social Teaching also teaches: The economy must serve people, not the other way around. All workers have a right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, and to safe working conditions. They also have a fundamental right to organize and join unions. People have a right to economic initiative and private property, but these rights have limits. No one is allowed to amass excessive wealth when others lack the basic necessities of life.

Catholic teaching opposes collectivist and statist economic approaches. But it also rejects the notion that a free market automatically produces justice. Distributive justice, for example, cannot be achieved by relying entirely on free market forces. Competition and free markets are useful elements of economic systems. However, markets must be kept within limits, because there are many needs and goods that cannot be satisfied by the market system. It is the task of the state and of all society to intervene and ensure that these needs are met. See selected quotations on markets, workers rights, and labor vs. capital

All of the themes of Catholic Social Teaching can be read at http://www.osjspm.org/major_themes.aspx

Answer 2

I'm not saying right or wrong but that's the way it is--was--will be. Every time the minimum wage goes up--the price of bread and milk go up. It's a never ending battle. Good luck
Is it a sin to oppress wages--yes. Your question does not allow for the person who believes it's not a sin.

Answer 3

a) we've 'at will' or 'loose will' employment in maximum places. do not choose to artwork for $5.15? The do not. no person forces you to flow to artwork, its a decision. (The effect being you have not any money for ingesting, lease, etc.) b) There are thousands if not hundreds of universities, state faculties and technical faculties accessible. If someone can't get off their bum and sacrifice slightly bit time and get extra preparation/guidance for a extra advantageous job, then it somewhat is their loss. heavily. people anticipate handouts (getting paid for doing much less). c) you're perfect interior the actuality that a some places won't pay extra desirable than the minimum. yet think of of what style of jobs those are! frequently ones with somewhat severe turnover or are non everlasting. according to danger unions at the instant are not the terrific approach anymore, yet at circumstances they help enforce the factor that persons are nicely worth something (and that i frequently by no potential take the fringe of the union). d) attempting to take a Biblical verse and practice it to something as great because it somewhat is risky and actual does not make experience. What are you even attempting to declare.......that union workers are slacker or that minimum salary workers are slaves? I refer you to a) above and at will employment. Your assertion must be written back, this time with a the meaning slightly extra sparkling.

Answer 4

Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

Social Justice is the respect for the human person and the rights which flow from human dignity and guarantee it.

Society must provide the conditions that allow people to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and vocation.

This includes employers paying employees a living wage.

If we truly love our neighbor as well as we love ourselves, how can we allow him and his family to live in poverty?

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Not only in James, but also in the Old Testament, employers are commanded to pay their employees. (I don't recall exactly where it says it, but I suggest looking in Leviticus.) What it say is on the order of "A day's pay for a day's work". Of course, in modern day society, most employers nowadays pay two weeks' pay for two weeks' work, waiting until a designated "payday" to present employees with their paychecks.

Answer 6

Bro.....you are the Religion & Spirituality.

Therefore you cannot serve 2 masters.

13"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."