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Labour

The document defines labour as any human physical or mental effort undertaken for reward. It classifies labour into three types: skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled. Skilled labour requires specialized training while unskilled labour does not. The document also lists 11 characteristics of labour, including that it is perishable, cannot be separated from the labourer, and has less bargaining power than employers.

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Rithesh K
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99 views

Labour

The document defines labour as any human physical or mental effort undertaken for reward. It classifies labour into three types: skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled. Skilled labour requires specialized training while unskilled labour does not. The document also lists 11 characteristics of labour, including that it is perishable, cannot be separated from the labourer, and has less bargaining power than employers.

Uploaded by

Rithesh K
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LABOUR

MEANING:
“Labourconsists of all human efforts of body or of mind which are
undertaken in the expectation of reward.”
Work done simply to attain pleasure or happiness is not labour.

ESSENTIALS OF LABOUR :

 Only human effort is labour.


 Labour may be both physical and mental.
 Labour is undertaken in expectation of a reward.

CLASSIFICATION OF LABOUR :

1. Skilled labour : skilled labourers are those who have specialized


training for a particular profession and also have long practical
experience of the job. These workers are highly paid. Doctors,
engineers, lawyers etc.
2.Semi-skilled labour : Semi-skilled workers are those who have
only a part of professional training of their trade but have
sufficient experience in that line. Carpenters, weavers, goldsmith
etc. The semi-skilled workers are paid comparatively less than the
skilled workers.
3.Unskilled workers : Unskilled workers are mainly employed for
carrying out such jobs which do not require any specialized
professional skill. Labourers who are employed for construction
of houses coolies etc.. They are poorly paid as their number is
quite large in less developed countries like India.
EXAMPLES :

SKILLED LABOUR SEMI-SKILLED LABOUR UNSKILLED LABOUR

Chartered Carpenters Railway coolies


Accountants

Technical experts Weavers Domestic Servants

Company Goldsmiths Sweepers


Secretaries

CHARACTERISTICS OF LABOUR :

1. Labour is perishable: Labour cannot be stored. The labourer has to


sell his labour immediately irrespective of the prices (i-e wages) paid
to him.

2. Labour is an active factor of production : Land and capital are the


passive factor of production, but labour is an active factor of
production. Without labour, other factors of production like land and
capital cannot produce anything.

3. Labour cannot be separated from labourer : Land and capital can


be separated from their owners but labour cannot be separated from
a labourer. A labourer will have to be present himself at a place
where work is going on.

4. Labourer sells his labour not himself : The labourer does not sell
himself, he sells his labour only. A labourer may or may not agree to
do work. He remains quite independent while doing his task.
5. Labour is mobile : Labourer alone is a factor which is mobile. It can
move from one place to another, and also from one occupation to
another.

6. Labour differ in efficiency : All labourers are not equally efficient.


Some labourers are more efficient to their ability, training and skill,
whereas others are less efficient on account of their illiteracy,
ignorance etc..

7. Labour can improve its efficiency : By investing capital on workers


education and training the productivity of labour can be improved.

8. Inelastic supply of labour : The supply of labour is inelastic of a


country at a particular time. It means its supply can neither be
increased nor decreased. Eg : if a country has scarcity of a particular
type of workers, its supply cannot be increased within a day or
month. It depends upon the size of the workers. Population of a
country cannot be increased or decreased quickly. Children take time
to become workers.

9. Labour is both a means and an end : A labour is both means of


production and an end of it. He produces goods and also consumes
them

10. Demand for labour is derived : Labour is not directly demanded


as goods and services for consumption. Labour is demanded only
when there is demand for goods and services produced by them.

11. Labour has less bargaining power : Labour are generally poor
and therefore consider it better to accept the low wage offered by
the employer rather than go without work.

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