Human work: An economic or an ethical value?

Abstract

Most economists are of the opinion that work, or the ability to work, is a commodity, while remuneration for work is the price of this commodity, shaped through the law of supply and demand. They point out, however, that the job market is strongly rationed.

The commodity view of paid work (capability to work) is shared by rather few specialists in labour law. They opine that the job contract is effectively a purchase-sale agreement of the labour force for the sum of the remuneration. In regarding work as a commodity, they underscore the peculiar nature of the commodity, resulting from the inalienable bond between work itself and the person who performs it. The bond must be protected, mainly through appropriately liberalised labour law.

Along with most specialists in labour law, the author is against the commodity view of work as being in discord with the dignity of persons, for whom work is not only the most appropriate way of securing survival but the source of the development of human nature. People engage in work with all their personalities, not only with the mere ability to perform it. Because of the right to live and the obligation to protect it, public authorities should grant everyone the right to earn their own living, and in the cases of shortage of work, they should grant material help to the worker and his or her family.