Doris Ochei
“All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance, and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
Dignity is a very important component of everyday life, that is why it is at the core of this article. For me, dignity is that inalienable right of a person to be valued, respected and treated justly under any condition regardless of status. That is why dignity of labour or what is sometimes referred to as dignity of work will remain an interesting topic as long as human beings live on planet earth. But there is a universal and unimpeachable truth about dignity and labour. According to that deep and generally acceptable concept, dignity of labour “is the philosophical holding that all types of jobs are respected equally, and no occupation is considered superior and none of the jobs should be discriminated on any basis”. In other words, all forms of legitimate jobs are equal. As a matter of fact, no profession, no matter how respected or revered by society, has any superiority claim over another legitimate profession.
I can actually relate with the conclusions of this declaration on labour and dignity through my youthful years; that is why I love my childhood days. Growing up, I witnessed this harmony among the working people of my teenage years. I saw medical doctors, teachers, public officers in different government departments, artistes, health workers, contractors, artisans, community leaders and farmers who worked for the purpose of earning a living honourably. For some people in those good old days who understood and appreciated the concept of dignity of labour, they did not fail to recognize and respect every job everywhere, including jobs that appeared lowly at face value because they knew what was at stake. The truth is that the people of that unforgettable era just wanted to earn a living legitimately, and they cared less about today’s irresistible social pressure to stand out, make it big and live large even when they lack the means.
So, for many years in those days, workers and many families well-known for various professions, worked diligently and proudly too. The lucky ones, it must be emphasized, entrenched themselves in their different professions and as a result, made good names that eventually outlived the brains behind those enterprises. It is also instructive to note that workers of that time worked with the mindset that a good name was better than riches and unmerited opportunities. Therefore, they gave their all as they worked.
One other remarkable thing about that era is that service was far and above profit and self. As young people growing up under such circumstance, we watched from a distance but all the important lessons about diligence, good conduct, legitimate work, character and respect for people, were not lost. Today, I still wonder, and I am sure some people within my age bracket will occasionally ponder on why profiling and discrimination based on occupation was not common place back in the day. In addition, people were also respected for the jobs they did, it did not matter whether they were teachers, farmers, labourers or artisans. The dignity of work was part and parcel of life, and workers held sway in many towns and communities because they were highly respected for reasons that are not hard to find.
That is why nowadays, there exists a yawning gap between labour and dignity of those days. And it will be very easy to see the difference if life in those days is juxtaposed with what now obtains at the moment.
So, what went wrong? What happened to dignity of labour? The most worrisome feature with regard to labour and dignity is the get-rich-quick syndrome. This morality deficit that is now noticeable everywhere in our country, is making lives miserable. Everywhere you turn, there must be someone doing all the wrong things because society is failing people. Moreso, society appears to have lost the concept of reward for good behaviour.
And people no longer care about communal parenting and Africa’s time-tested culture that made it almost compulsory for every adult to keep an eye on growing children around them.
Today, relationships are changing, just like institutions and even cultural norms that were once held high. For any discerning mind, young people are now stressed beyond measure. Regrettably, many of them have financial anxiety, all because of the pressure to make a lot of money and ‘live the life’. But just a handful wants to work and end that money legitimately. All that matters is now is make money as fast as possible, regardless of all the difficulties, risks and sacrifices involved in this restless run for the so-called good things of life. For these young people, the outcome is important, that is why the end, in their view, justifies the means. And this is further exacerbated by the fact that these days, they grow up in environments or settings that have very little to offer in terms of encouraging good behaviour and genuine labour.
Unlike our days, some young people today are sometimes blind to what society approves as a socially acceptable attitude. So, more often than not, they go overboard in an attempt to live their dreams even when such ambitions and lifestyles impinge on the rights and privileges of other people. But must we continue to live like this? What should society do to extricate itself from this road that leads to nowhere?
To save our common world, we need to communicate more, interact more and learn more. It is never too late to start all over again, and I believe there could not have been a better time. As individuals, I know we have the opportunity to begin again by promoting dignity of labour. To begin with, we must stop judging people on the basis of their jobs, status or social standing. As a matter of fact, every profession deserves its worth and respect. Education is also very critical. As we learn to change our orientation and bearing, we should also try and communicate the best ideals anytime anywhere. It is also important for us to treat other people the way we want to be treated.
However, as we discuss labour and the associated dignity, let us also not forget to shed light on opportunities for growth and development in our small corners of the world. I think we must be seen to be making a difference, no matter how little in our places of influence. For instance, ensuring that people are well paid according to their skills, experience, qualification and contribution to the common good will go a long way in changing our world.
So, as we work to earn a living and provide for our various families, we should realize and acknowledge the fact that our actions, no matter how small, has the potential of rubbing off on other people, especially the young ones who are always looking out for examples and direction.
*Dr. Ochei, a Business Development Coach and Gender Advocate, writes from Lagos.
