Lights and shadows on the state of employment in Spain and Portugal: this come to the fore at the meeting between "Hermandad Obrera de Acción Católica" (Hoac, Labourers Fraternity of the Organisation for Catholic Action) of Spain and "Liga Operaria Católica" (Loc, Catholic Labourers’ League) of Portugal, which took place in Salamanca a few days ago. Unemployment, uncertain jobs, professional flexibility, geographical mobility, industrial accidents, low wages and pensions, families getting into debt, unfavourable labour legislation, privatisation of public services, worsening of the health-care and social-security systems, underground economy are, according to the two organisations, problems which impair "the quality of life to such an extent they actually question human dignity". Despite all this, Hoac and Loc think there are "signs of hope and the will to change this state of affairs, to build a better, fairer and more humane world", in the attempt to "globalise hope". Then a thank you to the Spanish bishops for publishing the book named "Human work, the principle of life" and the document called "The Church in Spain and the immigrants", and to Portugal for the work done by the Pastoral for Migration and by the National Committee for Justice and Peace.
