Fortunately, recent British Government legislation has caused the Gang Master Licensing Bill to be drawn up, and also to increase the minimum wage from GBP4.50 per hour to GBP4.85 per hour.
We live in a global economy nowadays. The workers from other parts of the world provide services, goods or produce for us here, and vice versa. It’s also a changing economy, with multinational takeovers, and cutbacks; with redundancies affecting not only the workers, but their families too.
God worked to create the world in which we live, so He understands about work. We are made in His image, and part of our God-like nature is to work. In fact, most of our time is spent at work.
There are things to celebrate when jobs are completed, or contracts obtained, or projects achieved, or family joys shared.
But often, there are tensions, relationship problems, family crises, or fears of job loss.
As Workplace Chaplains, in Kent Industrial Mission, we support people at work by our presence and our concern.
By so doing, we hope to remind them of God’s love for each and everyone, for He is there, present in every workplace. Jesus Christ said: "Seek and you will find."
Have you found God in your workplace?
Working With The Media
Do you have any experience in working with the media. This does not mean in terms of chaplaincy to Radio, as is currently being done by our colleague Tony Miles, but more in terms of "doing" Thought for the Day for a local radio station, or contributing a column to a local newspaper.
How do you use it? How should you use it? Do you "preach to the converted", or try to speak to the listenership or readership who would normally subconsciously turn off when such things come on?
Herewith a Thought for the Day from Meg Grainger-Smith, which was sparked by a tragic event, but which dealt with economic issues as well.
BBC RADIO KENT: Friday 1st October 2004.
Good Morning! One event that hit the headlines, nationally, this year, was the fate of the Chinese Cockle Pickers, in Morecombe Bay. They, tragically, lost their lives while working, on the beach, at low tide. Many of them were probably unaware of the dangers posed, by the incoming tide, so they were swept away to their deaths. These people were working to send money home to their families in China. They were earning low wages, and were ruled by their gang masters.
Nowadays, the number of people working away from home has increased worldwide, and there have been a number of migrant workers employed by gang masters in the United Kingdom to provide for our needs. However, there is a big difference between the wages paid and the price of goods in the shops.
