pieceworkers
Paid by output
Pieceworkers are laborers paid by the unit of work completed rather than by time: The pieceworkers in the garment factory were paid per shirt.
The system incentivizes speed over quality and has historically been associated with sweatshops and exploitative conditions, though it persists in agriculture, manufacturing, and some gig economy work.
Payment for work
- ratesFixed prices charged
- quotasMandated numerical limits
- productivityOutput relative to input
- earningsMoney gained from work
incentives · output · tallies · deadlines · targets · payments · exploitation · subcontracting
Selfish use of others
- long hoursExcessive time working
- repetitive strainDamage from repeated movement
- unsafe conditionsCircumstances posing danger
- poor ventilationInsufficient air exchange
child labor · exhaustion · overtime · pressure · speed · fatigue · eye strain · back pain
Textile industry laborers
- sewersUnderground waste conduits
- seamstressesThose who sew professionally
- cuttersDevices for severing material
- stitchersThose who sew
assemblers · homeworkers · outworkers · machinists · finishers · pressers · packers · sorters
Woven or knit materials
- garmentsArticles of clothing
- electronicsStudy of circuits
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
- harvestingGathering mature crops
assembly · handicrafts · embroidery · beadwork · envelope stuffing · data entry · transcription · food processing
wages
Payment for work
- ratesFixed prices charged
- quotasMandated numerical limits
- productivityOutput relative to input
earnings · incentives · output · tallies · deadlines · targets · payments · exploitation · subcontracting · middlemen
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- long hoursExcessive time working
- repetitive strainDamage from repeated movement
- unsafe conditionsCircumstances posing danger
poor ventilation · child labor · exhaustion · overtime · pressure · speed · fatigue · eye strain · back pain · no benefits
garment workers
Textile industry laborers
- sewersUnderground waste conduits
- seamstressesThose who sew professionally
- cuttersDevices for severing material
stitchers · assemblers · homeworkers · outworkers · machinists · finishers · pressers · packers · sorters · trimmers
textiles
Woven or knit materials
- garmentsArticles of clothing
- electronicsStudy of circuits
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
harvesting · assembly · handicrafts · embroidery · beadwork · envelope stuffing · data entry · transcription · food processing · packaging
- laborerslaborers, day laborer, day labourer, day laborers, manual worker
- Taskersfreelancers, gig workers, contractors, temps, helpers
pieceworkerssalaried employees
Workers receiving fixed regular pay
salaried workers · hourly workers · wage earners · day laborers