Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

Demonstrators holding signs demanding the right to vote and equal civil rights at the March on Washington

“The rights of workers, like all other rights, are based on the nature of the human person and on their transcendent dignity.” Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #301

All workers have inalienable rights, as the economy should serve the person; the person does not exist to serve the economy.

Discover a rich collection of resources rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, designed to illuminate the dignity of work and the rights of workers. This curated content equips educators, faith leaders, and advocates with tools to inspire action and reflection on justice in the workplace and economic systems.

Catholic Social Teaching Resources on the Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

  • Prayers and Reflections: Ground your understanding of work and human dignity in spiritual practices and Gospel values.
  • Lesson Plans and Activities: Engaging, ready-to-use materials for teaching about labor rights and the moral implications of economic justice.
  • Multimedia Resources: Videos, articles, and visuals that bring the principles of Catholic Social Teaching to life for diverse audiences.
  • Advocacy Tools: Practical guides for promoting fair wages, safe conditions, and policies that prioritize workers’ rights.

Each resource is crafted to deepen your understanding of the Church’s commitment to justice, solidarity, and the common good. Whether you’re preparing for a classroom discussion, parish presentation, or personal study, these materials offer valuable insights into how the dignity of work is a cornerstone of human flourishing.

Children crouch beside drying cocoa beans in a rural setting, reflecting global child labor practices.
Prayer

Prayer for Child Laborers

Too many young children around the world still work, often in hazardous conditions; this prayer reminds us who some of these child laborers are and why they need our advocacy and support.  
Toolbox

Arts

This collection of new and revised resources celebrates all forms of art and the importance of artists in the work for global social justice.  
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Film Discussion Guide

Tricked

Tricked is a documentary based on real-life interviews with different people involved in sex trafficking; this film discussion guide offers questions guiding viewers to consider how the sin of...

The True Cost

This harrowing documentary tells the global story of the clothing industry and asks the question, “Who really pays the price for our clothing?” The principles of Catholic social thought and...
Film Discussion Guide

I Am Jane Doe

I Am Jane Doe discloses the hidden truth about Backpage.com, an online classified website that, along with information about bikes for sale and apartments for rent, runs a thriving internet-enabled...
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Prayer

For the Children

This prayer commemorates the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12th.
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Reflection

CST and SDGs: Work and Dignity

This reflection looks at the teachings of Popes Leo XIII, John Paul II, and Francis on work, and connects these teachings to the UN Sustainable Develop Goal related to decent work.  
Resources for groups and the individuals on the dignity of work and Rerum Novarum through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, Catholic Social tradition, and Catholic social justice.
Reflection

From Rerum Novarum to the Modern World: On the Conditions of Labor Today

This reflection gives a history of Catholic social teaching on worker justice, identifies current issues pertaining to labor and workers’ rights, and provides reflection questions and other...
Prayer

Prayer for Women Workers

This prayer asks blessings on all women workers and for solidarity among all women workers.
Activity

Thank You Cards for Workers

Give these thank you cards to custodial workers, baristas, restaurant workers, or hotel staff to honor their labor and build solidarity.     Instructions: 1. Print the card on...
Resources for groups and individuals on the dignity of work through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, Catholic social justice, and Catholic Social tradition.
Toolbox

Dignity of Work

This toolbox is a compilation of resources pertaining to the CST theme of the dignity of work and the rights of workers.
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Film Discussion Guide

The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story

Chico Mendes was a Brazilian rubber tapper, trade union leader, environmentalist, and martyr. This film highlights Mendes’s work to end the destruction of the Amazonian rain forest and to organize...