[Actually the title of this post should be: “Atheist/Benmara” since they are the discussants here. This is a question raised by DN whose letters started this open-discussion series; the answer to this question has been provided by Benmara of hearoyisrael.net. Anyone else interested is invited to join this discussion, please fill up the REPLY box below.]
Q: Darius Nease <www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lotuseater>
I have just gone through another “negotiation” with my boss again–constantly trying to get more for less…And since this is an outsourced position, and though forced to take on outsourcing work or earn PHP250 a day as a construction worker, I have always been against outsourcing so I post here and now on this subject. However, to relate to you, the site owners as well as your visitors, I thought maybe we could relate it to the law that you discuss and follow, the word of YHWH. For example, I’ve learned that the Jews have all kinds of special laws concerning business and money–and I mean ancient laws, not the modern ones that Gentiles keep giving them grief for. For instance, the law that all debt shall be forgiven following a 7 year cycle, things like that. Whether these laws are truly divine or passed down from human ancestors over the millennia, most I have come across are sound and level the playing field such that each individual has a fair chance at a good life.
What does Hebraic law say about the issues concerning outsourcing-related activities (which I find to be a major evil in the world)? Besides the numerous statements warning people not to be greedy and to look after the poor, what does Hebraic law say about outsourcing-specific sins?
Large companies are greedy enough as it is. My view is that outsourcing allows them to rake in even more profits by denying work to home country laborers and underpaying outsourced labor. Furthermore, workers on both sides of the ocean have no say in the matter and are powerless. Of course outsourced laborers will take PHP10,000 a month over PHP5000! And those left without jobs in the home country usually end up working for minimum wage if nothing better is available. Though, and to branch into another topic that I am working on, at least one can survive on, let’s say, US minimum wage where it is impossible to do so independent of a family support system in the Philippines.
What is the word on this insidious business practice? What is outsourcing according to YHWH?
A. Benmara of hearoyisrael.net
Regarding the outsourcing question, it is imperative to remember that Yahuwah ‘Elohiym judges us by our actions in ALL that we do.
Yahuwah tells us that a workman is worth his wages. The Towrah gives us many instructions regarding how we treat the poor, the downtrodden, our neighbors, our families and even our employees. We are told in many places that we are to avoid greed and avarice and we’re not to refuse to help others. Hell, even when we LOAN the money to another, we have to expect not to get that money when the seven year period of time is over. And this is not seven years from one we loaned it, it is the every seven years cycle of a release. So if money is loaned two years from the end of the cycle– it is only two years until the debtor is released from repayment! This amnesty applies only to us, we can charge you gowyim the interest the whole time:
Dabariym 15 [reformatting and highlights added]
AT the end of every seven years you will make an amnesty.
2. And this is the institution of the amnesty:
- every creditor will absolve what he has lent to his neighbor;
- he will not require it from his neighbor and his brother;
- because the amnesty יהוה has been proclaimed.
3. From a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever you have of your brother’s your hand will release.
4. However there will be no poor with you; (for יהוה will surely bless you in the land which יהוה your ‘Elohiym [Mighty One] gives you for an inheritance to possess it);
But even though we are allowed to continue to charge the gowyim, please look at verse four. That’s somewhat of a silly addition if it’s speaking about us alone. After all, He has just, in verse one, declared the seven year amnesty. He is obviously talking about the foreigner– while we can still be charging money if you can afford it and if you’re not in hardship; if you are in a hardship I am to be merciful (considering all the other verses and the Towrah about mercy and giving I don’t think one should wait for seven years!)
and
Shemoth 23:
6. You will not turn aside the justice of the impoverished in his cause.
and
9. And a sojourner you will not oppress:
- for you know the nephesh of a sojourner,
- seeing you were sojourners in the land of Mitsrayim.
Read the Towrah for many, many more verses.
The point of all of that, is that the corporate world is generally set up to benefit only a select few at the top.
This greed and selfishness is what leads to outsourcing. The desire of the leaders of these companies claw their way to the top and die with more money in the bank than they could ever hope to spend in 1000 lifetimes is a disgusting thing before the Face of Yahuwah ‘Elohiym! No righteous individual could possibly make the claim that Yahuwah is not against this practice merely because there is no actual phrase “Thou shall not outsource…”
It is a process that is both greedy and avaricious as well as one that causes harm to the great many individuals.
Let me know if you need something more specific.
An excellent article by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks that explains how God is in the details of the Sinai laws: http://www.chiefrabbi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Mishpatim-5773-v2.pdf
yes.. toda raba for this…
shalom shalom