Remunerative Justice as a Normative Foundation of Decent Work

between Market Forces, Moral Claims, and Contemporary Theories of Justice

Abstract

Introduction: The notion of fair remuneration is a central element of the decent work agenda, yet it is often reduced to a minimum subsistence standard. This reduction tends to naturalize inequalities and to treat remuneration as a mere outcome of market forces, disregarding its normative, institutional, and distributive dimensions;

Objetive: To critically examine the concept of fair remuneration within the framework of decent work and to outline a normative approach that goes beyond minimum wage or living wage standards, grounded in contemporary theories of justice;

Methodology: The study adopts a theoretical and deductive approach based on a critical review of philosophical and legal literature. It analyzes liberal, Marxist, utilitarian, and egalitarian liberal theories, with particular emphasis on distributive justice;

Results: The findings indicate that remuneration is not a neutral market phenomenon but the result of institutional choices shaped by social values and interests. Approaches that restrict fair remuneration to a minimum material threshold are shown to be normatively insufficient. A broader framework is proposed, incorporating substantive freedoms, the neutralization of arbitrary disadvantages, and the requirements of social cooperation;

Conclusion: Fair remuneration is defined as a normative element of the basic structure of society. It is incompatible with exploitation and structural precariousness and plays a key role in guiding public policies in contexts of profound transformations in the world of work.

KEYWORDS: decent work; fair remuneration; remunerative justice; social division of labor; theories of justice.