In many African economies, unskilled labour is abundant. This drives the cost of labour down. As a result, many households opt to pay domestic workers to perform menial tasks around the home, such as cooking, cleaning, and gardening. This is different from more prosperous and developed countries, where highly-skilled labour costs a pretty penny, and people would rather use technology coupled with their own efforts to accomplish household tasks.
Hiring labour is a simple outworking of the basic demand and supply principles of economics. Mr Adebayo needs weeds pulled from his driveway. He could do it himself, but his employment pays him $20 an hour. However, eighteen-year-old Chike has no job and a lot of time on his hands. Mr Adebayo decides he is better served by hiring Chike for three hours and paying him $15 in total. Chike walks away $15 happier, and Mr Adebayo enjoys an afternoon with his family.
Small actions can help overcome some of the shortcomings of the free-market.
In free-market economies, millions of decisions like these are made every day. People buy and sell labour and services daily. This leads to a highly competitive environment where most workers are trying to earn the highest they can, and most employers are trying to pay the lowest they can get away with. The beauty of the system is that people are free to choose how much or how little they are willing to pay and work for. One downside is that the bottom line of profitability sometimes becomes the top priority, and that at all costs.
For Christians who have the ability and willingness, there are small ways to make a big difference in the employment of domestic labour. These small actions can help overcome some of the shortcomings of the free market system.
Here are three guidelines for end-of-year generosity towards your employees.
1. Be Calculated in Your Giving
We are to be wise stewards of God’s money.
Although one of the downsides of the free market is stringent frugality, overcorrection that results in practically giving money away to lazy or bad workers is equally counterproductive. Even Jesus acknowledged some workers as wicked and lazy (Matthew 25:26). If you choose to give something extra to an employee, take into consideration the worker’s current pay, their performance, and other employees. We are to be wise stewards of God’s money.
2. Be Considerate in Your Giving
In Matthew 7:12, our Lord said to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Take a moment to think of what you desire for yourself and your family. A restful holiday season to recover; time to see your loved ones; a bountiful Christmas meal; and maybe even some gifts for your children. What a testament of love to put yourself in your domestic worker’s shoes—or apron—and consider what would be a blessing to them. Many of them are day-labourers who live hand-to-mouth and know nothing of long-term savings.
3. Be Kind in Your Giving
The Bible has numerous examples of how the people of God are to be generous to those who aren’t as well-off.
In Leviticus 19:9-10, God reminded the Israelites that efficiency and effectiveness weren’t the only considerations when it came to harvesting their barley and gathering their grapes. They were to leave some of the fruit on the vines and some of the harvest in the field. This was so that the poor and needy could benefit. In the New Testament, Paul says in Galatians 2:9-10 that James, Peter, and John asked that he and Barnabas remember the poor—the very thing he was also eager to do.
The posture of God’s people is always to be one of loving and kindhearted generosity.
Some employers may give an extra entire month’s worth of salary as a 13th cheque. Others invite workers to join them for a meal. Some buy a basket of groceries for their workers to travel back to the village with. Others opt to only require half a month of labour for a full month of pay, so their travelling employees’ families can be blessed with a few more days with mama and papa in the home.
A Loving Posture That Loosens the Pursestrings
There are many factors to consider in a free-market. And it is the guilt-free prerogative of an employer to pay his employees according to their private agreement. However, as we deal with those in our employ, particularly domestic workers, let us do well to remember that the posture of the people of God is always to be one of loving and kindhearted generosity.
DON’T HAVE PAYPAL TO SET UP A MONTHLY DONATION? If you would like to donate via Payfast – a secure payment gateway available to donors both inside and outside of Africa – please click here.
