indirect labour
Definition
indirect labour (noun phrase, uncountable) - A category of labour that does not directly contribute to the production of goods or services but is essential for the overall operation of a business or organization. This includes workers such as supervisors, maintenance staff, security personnel, and administrative support.
Usage Examples
- (Labour that is not directly involved in manufacturing, such as janitors and managers.)
- (Workers like accountants or human resources staff who support production indirectly.)
- (Non-production labour that was contracted to external firms.)
Advanced Usage
- "indirect labour cost": the total expense associated with indirect labour, including wages, benefits, and training.
- Managers must allocate indirect labour costs properly to avoid budget overruns. (The costs of support staff like payroll clerks or safety officers.)
- "indirect labour pool": the group of employees who perform indirect labour roles within an organization.
- The indirect labour pool grew as the company expanded its quality control department. (The set of workers not directly producing goods.)
Variants and Related Words
- Direct labour (noun phrase): labour that is directly involved in creating a product or service.
- Assembly line workers are classified as direct labour. (Workers who physically build the product.)
- Labour (noun): work, especially physical work.
- The construction project required a large amount of labour. (Effort from workers.)
Synonyms
- Support labour: labour that aids production without being directly involved.
- Overhead labour: labour costs that are part of general business expenses.
- Non-productive labour: labour not directly tied to output (sometimes used in accounting).
Related Idioms
- Back-room staff: employees who work behind the scenes, not in direct contact with customers or production.
- The back-room staff handle inventory and accounting, making them indirect labour. (Support workers not visible to clients.)
Phrasal Verbs (None directly applicable to "indirect labour"; the term is a noun phrase and does not form verb phrases.)