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Alienation can work if the majority of the population thinks that the system that crushes the population exists for the good of the population. This follows the neo-liberalism rules of the 19th century philosophical system. We do not only have the right but a common obligation to resistance towards this system that says it’s for our good but in fact it’s only for a minority. We should not underestimate the enemy because it finds ways to get people. The Trade Unions struggled for having the representation of the workers getting info in the companies and the workers to express their opinions. A model was organised such as quality circles where workers decide if they do always the same tasks or change them or if they break and work longer or not, etc. However, on the number of cars they produce or their deadline, they have no decision-making power. Thus they only decide on details. Resistance to the system is never finished – it requires creativity and little ruptures.  It’s necessary to provoke changes in quality but this doesn’t yet change the system. In our world even the alter-globalisation movements cannot leave the system but they have the project of the best resistances and need to continue to do this in the most intelligent way.

Security – each person needs a minimum of security, confidence, and trust in others to live socially. We take our security from 2 sources – one due to the juridical system of the country; the other is the social security (so that when I am ill and can’t work I will still have means to survive). The need of security is met because of what we put in common, such as laws. The other security is from the limits I set myself. Some city districts are closed by alarm systems, dogs, security guards etc. In this case rich people are locked in to protect themselves. This is the proposal of the extreme right – let’s find a security system that locks out those who are threatening, different from us. Many Christians also are attracted by the extreme right. There is a legitimate need for one’s security, YCW is with the first and struggles against the second.

The Christian Movements expressed the positive idea that through work the human being is collaborating with the Creator completing the creation. God worked six days and He didn’t have time to finish so we are continuing his work.  We are the co-creators together with God. This idea spreads itself around the Movements and Cardijn was a big promoter of it.

Alternatives: Regarding basic income, a proposal was made: all citizens of 18 years of age or more have the right to a basic subsidy because they live in a given country. If the person wants, he/she can work and increase this basic income.  This idea seems impossible and dangerous; impossible because nobody has been able to say how much this basic income would be.  The highest amount mentioned was 400 Euro, but this is a challenge to live here with this amount.  It’s dangerous because if we consider that everyone has an automatic right to it, it would be a reduction of young people with a consuming attitude.  Some people would say 400 Euro is too much and that people have to be stimulated to work.  Right wing governments would exclude non-citizens etc. For these reasons the workers’ Movement in Belgium is opposed to this idea.

Too much work – too little work: It is important to remember the role work can have in life and society.Today people die of two things: they work too much or too little. The reduction of working time is a way of sharing work and allowing everyone access to this dimension of life and not having someone to become a victim of this. To be cautious because in our countries a series of rights are linked to work and are not the same if you reduce the working time.

The informal economy versus economy in solidarity: Informal economy is the complete exploitation.We need what some people call an “economy in solidarity” that fulfils social needs (also of those who are excluded from society) with a diversified way of financing.

Work in the other continents: Many people in our countries think that “There (preferably in Africa), they only work for their food and than they stop.  No wonder that these countries are under-developed.  Can they be “civilised” if they haven’t understood that work is in the centre of life! In fact, many people in these countries have to work without status or contract and without recognition of their jobs.  Children and youngsters in Latin America, Asia and Africa have to work outside of the usual working standards.  Also these exploited people should have the right to work in dignity and be properly paid.

Work and women: When they introduce themselves, many women say that they don’t work, even though they don’t stop the whole day.  They mean, they have no job, but they take care of a whole series of tasks that our patriarchal societies impose on women.  They carry them out without salary and without social recognition.