Occupational justice as social justice: The moral claim for inclusion

Occupational justice is typically framed as an aspect of social justice, a philosophical perspective that has traditionally emphasised treating people with respect and equitable distribution of societal resources. Contemporary views emphasise acknowledging difference and what people have the capability to do and be, rather than what they receive. This presentation questioned whether working towards occupational justice can contribute to realising a just and inclusive society by analysing how occupational justice issues have been argued. A systematic review of diverse literature documenting occupational injustices was completed, looking for whether social or occupational justice was emphasised, what recourse authors made to human or occupational rights, whether moral or ethical claims were made, and how authors positioned their work. All authors were found to invoke social justice concepts and relate previous or current human rights abuses. Occupational deprivation was almost always cited and breaches of people’s occupational rights were identified. Claims for social and occupational justice were interrelated, with the right to work emphasised. Moral claims to occupational justice were revealed in descriptions of people experiencing occupational injustice as worthy citizens and as suffering. Mechanisms that create and hold occupational injustices were identified, and responsibility for achieving occupational justice was situated within policy structures and with policy makers.