Labour Sunday 2025: Workplace Safety in the Eyes of Jesus

Text: Luke 15:1-5

April 27, 2025

Occupational injuries in Hong Kong

According to Hong Kong government statistics , there were 29,456 workplace injuries in 2023-24, down from 32,026 in 2022-23. The situation seems to improve. However, industrial accidents increased to 8,134 in 2023-24 from 7,762 in 2022-23. Fatal workplace incidents rose to 286 deaths in 2023-24 from 266 in 2022-23, a rise of 20 deaths. The trend of serious workplace injuries is clearly on the rise.

The construction industry continues to have the highest number of fatal cases and accident rates. In 2023-24, construction deaths reached 20 people, up from 17 in 2022-23, 17.6% increase. This situation gives us real cause for concern.

A Workplace Accident in the Scripture

In Luke 13:4-5, Jesus mentions an accident in which the tower of Siloam, north of Jerusalem, collapsed and killed eighteen people. Many others were likely injured as well. When Jesus talked about this incident, everyone seemed to know about it—either because the tragedy was so large that news had spread far, or because Jesus was near Jerusalem at the time (cf. Luke 13:4, 33).

The tower of Siloam stood on high ground north of the Temple. During Jesus' time, King Herod Antipas expanded it into a military fortress covering thirty-five acres. As many as 6,000 Roman soldiers were stationed there, with their own temple inside. Jewish people typically avoided this area, concerned about ceremonial uncleanness and personal safety . Yet from Jesus' conversation, it's clear the victims were Jewish . This suggests Romans probably hired or forced Jewish workers to expand the fortress.

If hired, these were likely day labourers who lived hand-to-mouth, supporting their families through daily wages (like the workers in Jesus' Parable of the Vineyard Workers in Matthew 20:1-16). To feed their families, they set aside concerns about ceremonial uncleanness. In modern terms, the tower of Siloam collapse was a workplace accident where workers died at work.

Herod Antipas expanded the area near the tower of Siloam into a military fortress, partly to suppress Jewish rebellion, but also possibly to defend against enemy invasion or even attacks from the Roman Emperor. Jewish historian Josephus records that Herod Antipas executed John the Baptist because he feared John might incite large crowds to revolt. In 36 CE, Aretas IV attacked Antipas to avenge the dishonour of his daughter whom Antipas had divorced. In 39 CE, Antipas was reported by his nephew for allegedly plotting rebellion against Rome, resulting in his dismissal and exile by the Roman Emperor Caligula .

Whether defending against local rebellion, foreign invasion, or planning his own rebellion, Herod Antipas was clearly passionate about military matters . He had made many enemies and frequently engaged in conflicts. For him, military defense and security were the highest priorities—ways to strengthen his power and control over the people. All this was more important to him than people's lives or worker safety. Under the overriding concern for military security, worker safety inevitably became a secondary consideration. In fact, when Jesus discussed the tower of Siloam collapse with the Jewish people, no one even mentioned workplace safety issues or employer responsibility.

Who's Responsible?

If the employer was not held responsible, who was? For Jewish people in Jesus' time, the common belief was that such tragic deaths were the victims' fault—they must have sinned and angered God, bringing divine punishment on themselves (cf. John 9:1-3). Attributing suffering to divine curses was standard belief in Jewish tradition, coming from the Deuteronomic teachings .

Jesus clearly disagreed. He plainly stated, "By no means! Certainly not!" Yet Jesus did not directly answer how to understand these deaths. He firmly rejected the idea that suffering was God's punishment, but did not fully explain how to interpret the eighteen deaths.

For many Jewish people then, they were simply bystanders to this tragedy. If the eighteen died as divine punishment, they might think, "They deserved it!" If not, it still did not concern them personally.

"They deserve it!"

This "they deserve it" attitude sometimes shows up in a way how we handle workplace accidents today. While we might not say workers "deserve" their injuries, we often assume workplace accidents are the workers' fault—they didn't follow safety rules or wear protective equipment. While workers do have responsibility for safety, this doesn't mean employers have none.

The Jewish labourers at Siloam were likely day labourers paid daily, with no job security. Their families depended on these daily wages for food. Missing even one day of work could mean hunger. For them, having work at all was considered a blessing—asking about workplace safety would have seemed impossible.

Today's Tower of Siloam

Many workers today face similar situations. Food delivery platform workers in Hong Kong are often classified as self-employed rather than employees. They receive no labour protection, and when accidents happen, they get minimal insurance compensation. A delivery worker who suffered permanent disability from a head injury received only about HK$90,000 in compensation. He did not know he wasn't considered an employee until after his accident.

He described his job as constantly checking his phone, tapping quickly to accept orders, and rushing to deliver. "How would I know I wasn't an employee?" he said sadly. "Whoever pays me is my boss."

Some people might say, "Nobody forced you to become a food delivery worker! You knew what you were getting into!" or "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee met with a delivery platform company two years ago. Right from the start, the company made their position clear: everything was open for discussion except one thing—the self-employed status of their delivery workers was non-negotiable. This effectively meant workers' labour rights and injury protections weren't up for discussion either. The company would bear no responsibility for workplace injuries.

In other words, the platform company only wanted the workers' labour and productivity. Beyond the payment—which the company could adjust at any time—they refused any responsibility toward their workers. It is no wonder this platform company recently closed down in Hong Kong, leaving behind unpaid labour benefits and injury lawsuits. Workers now face lengthy legal battles, with outcomes depending on how courts view their employment status—are they employees or self-employed contractors? In the end, these workers might receive nothing at all for their troubles.

Workplace Injuries with No One to Blame

Many people likely felt uneasy about the eighteen who died in the Siloam tower collapse. From Jesus' description, people knew about this incident and seemed quite concerned. After all, it was a serious workplace accident. Some people probably sympathized with the workers and their families, feeling their situation was tragic. But ultimately, these workers were "other people," unrelated to their own lives. They were simply hearing someone else's story and did not know what they could do about it.

In Hong Kong today, there is a group of workers who give their all for their employers, but end up losing their lives at work without any protection—workers who die suddenly on the job, commonly called "death from overwork." Government figures show that between 2018 and 2022, cases of employees dying at work (not from accidents or occupational diseases) have clearly increased. The five-year figures are: 131, 138, 136, 159, and 160 respectively . Most of these deaths were from heart and brain vascular diseases that struck during working time. The situation is estimated to be worsening in 2023 and 2024, especially as extreme weather—particularly intense heat—becomes normal in Hong Kong. The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims has pointed out that cases of sudden death at work have been steadily increasing .

One undeniable cause is how extended working hours trigger cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions. In 2021, a 47-year-old ferry crew member collapsed and died while working. His family reported he had been working for 23 consecutive days when he died, suggesting death from overwork.

That same year, a 43-year-old baker died suddenly at his workplace. He had been employed at the bakery for just over three months, working 10-hour shifts from 5 AM to 3 PM. He had to leave home around 3 AM daily, sometimes working until 6 PM, and once worked more than 10 days in a row. He had complained about the difficult work but continued for his family's sake, saying, "Even if I can earn just two thousand more, I want my family to have a better life."

Overwork is extremely common in Hong Kong across different industries. High-risk sectors include professional services, administration, service industries, construction, and many others. Professionals, managers, and frontline workers all face the risk of overwork . However, the government claims that since the International Labour Organization has no definition for "overwork," Hong Kong doesn't have one either. All cases of sudden death of cardiovascular disease during work are not classified as work injuries because the deceased typically had pre-existing conditions or lifestyle factors that contributed to their condition. Therefore, long working hours cannot be considered the sole decisive cause of death. Legally, these cases do not qualify as workplace injuries . In the end, these workers who "worked themselves to death" are not considered to have suffered work injuries even if they died at work. Their families not only lose their loved ones but also lose any chance at justice and basic financial support.

Many of us feel sad for these workers and their families but also feel helpless. What is most heartbreaking is that around 200 such deaths occur each year—that's nearly one worker dying of overwork every two days—yet none are recognized as workplace injuries, and no one is required to provide compensation.

Jesus' Response

Jesus clearly could not accept these situations—whether people thought workers "deserved" their fate, or viewed workers' lives and deaths as someone else's problem, or felt helpless about worker injuries and deaths. He firmly stated: "But unless you repent, you too will all perish. " (Luke 13:3,5). Perhaps the people of Jesus' time were confused by this. "What does this have to do with us? What do we need to repent of?" Another translation might help us understand better:

"You will all come to the same end unless you begin to reform."

Jesus was talking about the fate of the entire community, not individual good or bad fortune. He likely sensed the crisis facing the Jewish community. Under Roman oppression, Jesus seemed to disapprove of the Jews' blind military revolution that had triggered Pilate's massacre of Galileans (Luke 13:1). In community life, he saw poor people living day to day with unstable work and no safety protections (the tower of Siloam collapse in Luke 13:4). Yet the community was indifferent to the suffering of the poor and the lack of worker safety, considering it unrelated to themselves. Some even cursed the unfortunate, believing their misfortune was God's punishment (Luke 13:2,4) .

Political turmoil and social injustice deeply troubled Jesus. He warned the Jewish people that they must repent and change—not just individually, but as an entire community. Otherwise, political violence, workplace accidents, and other misfortunes would continue due to their flawed and sinful community life. This was both Jesus' warning to the Jewish community and his invitation for them to participate in changing community life.

The increase in serious workplace accidents in Hong Kong is not just about individual workers. Employer negligence regarding industrial safety, community indifference to workplace safety, inadequate government policies, and imperfect laws without proper enforcement all affect worker safety. Are others' lives and deaths truly unrelated to us? If we don't begin to change today, workplace accidents and worker suffering will only continue. This is Jesus' warning—and his invitation for us to work together for worker safety.

Labour Sunday Prayer 2025

Leader: Lord, you are the Lord of the universe.

Lord, you order humans to work and promise reward when we labour. Protect all workers from the risks of injuries at work, so that their families and the whole community can enjoy the fruits of their hard labour. Help us treasure their contribution and place worker safety in high priority. Workers therefore are happy to report duty and be safe after duty off.

Lord, have your mercy.

People: Hear our prayer.

Leader: Lord, you are the Lord of justice.

Lord, you listen to the cry of suffering people. You care about the voiceless and the speechless who make their complaints in no way. Merciful Lord, accept their whispering prayers under the inspiration of the Spirit and look at their helpless faces of the workers who get severely injured or die at work. Their tears and blood are condemning their misfortunes and distress. In the face of the workers’ grave accusations, heaven and the earth become silent. Lord, protect and sustain the workers and their families until vindication and justice come.

Lord, have your mercy.

People: Hear our prayer.

Leader: Lord Jesus, you are the friend of workers.

You denounce plainly that occupational injuries are by no means God’s curse against individuals’ sins. Injuries at work are not merely caused by individual workers’ faults, but also by employer negligence regarding worker safety, community indifference to the dangers of workers at work and inadequate government policies and imperfect provisions. These factors all affect worker safety. Inspire our entire community to repent that we will not set aside worker safety. Lord, gather the business, the community, the Church and the government together to work hand-in-hand to protect and promote worker health and safety.

Lord, have your mercy.

People: Hear our prayer.

Leader: Holy Ghost, you are the comforter and our companion.

We ask for your blessings upon all workers. Grant them a vision that both their families and the whole community can enjoy the fruits of their hard labour. Our comforter, have your mercy upon the workers who get severely hurt or die at work and their families. Grant them unfailing faith and endurance in the face of lengthy and grinding lawsuits, the arrogant business and the bureaucratic government. Sustain them until they can see justice comes one day.

Lord, have your mercy.

People: Hear our prayer.

Leader: Holy Ghost, you are the Spirit of transformation.

Lord, gather the society, the Church, the business, workers and the government together to take substantial and effective measures to protect worker safety. Inspire the Hong Kong Government to protect worker safety by timely policy changes and legal change. Help the business create a safe and mental health friendly workplace and lead the entire community and the Church to take care of the workers who get hurt and get sick at work and their families.

Lord, have your mercy.

People: Hear our prayer.