Employers of labour should be aware of the great dependence of productivity efficiency on the workers so as to provide the basic and necessary needs of their employees for a greater input as well as output.
Below are some of the major determinants of labour efficiency.
Education and training: these increase the skill of the worker and enable him to perform his job better. The higher the standard of education and training, the greater will be the efficiency and productivity of labour, while productivity is likely to be lower if little or no education is received.
There are three aspects of education and training- general education, technical education, and on-the-job training. General education is the basic education acquired in the primary and secondary schools, where the students are taught a variety of subjects. A sound general education widens the students’ horizons and is essential for developing intelligence and providing foundation for vocational education. Vocational or technical education is a more specialized form of education. For example, studying medicine, law, engineering, etc involves studying specific subjects.
On-the-job training is the type of training provided within the industry. Workers learn to operate machines and perform certain operations while being employed in the industry.
In order to improve the efficiency of labour, workers have to be given sound education and proper training in order to improve their skills. Employers have to send their workers on in service training programs and train them properly in the performance of operations within the industry. For example, they could be trained on the proper use of machines. This will enhance their productivity.
General working conditions: a good working environment is an essential factor which tends to improve the efficiency of labour. This is why employers should pay particular attention to the welfare of workers is such matters as lighting, heating, ventilation, and noise. There should be good lighti8ng in the place of work, no over-heating, proper ventilation and the avoidance of over-crowding. If there is poor ventilation, poor lighting, over-heating and excessive noise, productivity will be low.
Recreational facilities, canteens and breaks should be provided, long hours of work without recreation or breaks leads to boredom and fatigue and reduces efficiency of the workers .
Health: the worker is likely to put in more effort in his work when he is well than when he is sick. The efficiency of the worker is therefore related to the state of health. The health of the worker will depend to some extent on the consumption of adequate food, clothing and shelter. It would depend to a large extent on the provision of health facilities. More hospitals clinics, medical personnel and drugs should be provided by the employers. Employers should provide their workers with free medical services so that those workers who would otherwise not be able to cater for themselves can receive free treatment. They could also provide their workers with free lunch. These amenities will enhance their productivity.
The amount of incentives or remuneration given to workers: The provision of relevant and appropriate incentives such as higher pay, bonuses, housing schemes, housing allowances, car allowances, promotions, etc affect the productivity and efficiency of labour. Where the workers are well paid and given appropriate fringe benefits, they will be encouraged to work harder. But where they are not well paid and fringe benefits are not given efficiency will tend to be low.
Efficiency of other factors of production: The higher the quality of other factors of production (land, capital and the entrepreneur) the greater the efficiency of labour. The more fertile the land, the higher the productivity per worker. The higher the quality of capital such as machinery and equipment the greater the output per man. Efficient organization also leads to greater productivity. If the entrepreneur is efficient, he will organize the factors of production so well that output per worker will increase.
On the other hand, if the other factors of production are inefficient productivity per man/hour will be low.
Degree of specialization: the effect of specialization and division of labour on increasing labour output is undisputable. The efficiency of labour can be improved by the introduction of division of labour and increasing the degree of specialization, since output is increased by so doing.
State of mind of the worker: this is a psuchological factor which affects the efficiency of labour. When a worker is worried, he will not put in sufficient effort because he cannot concentrate on his work. A worker who has peace of mind tends to be more efficient than a worker who worried. It is therefore necessary to have social welfare schemes which relieve workers from worrying about the future, by catering for them in times of sickness, unemployment and old age. Such schemes enable workers to concentrate on their work. Large firms provide personnel who help workers solve their private problems. Labour efficiency can be improved by the provision of social welfare schemes.
Weather conditions: this factor may increase or decrease labour efficiency. Weather affects the willingness of a worker to work. If the weather is very hot, or there is high humidity, a worker easily gets tired, and cannot work for long hours. Since he doesn't put in much effort, productivity will be low. On the other hand, if the weather is pleasant people will be willing to work harder and this tends to increase their productivity.
In the temperate regions with cool weather, people can work for longer hours than people in the hot regions of the world. Productivity per worker tends to be higher in the temperate regions.
Weather and climates are natural factors and so there is little or nothing man can do to control them in order to improve labour efficiency. What could be done in this respect would come under the provision of good general working conditions. This would include the provision of fans and air conditioners to reduce heat. In the cold regions, heaters should be provided.
Outcome of productivity greatly depends on the workers. Therefore they should be proverly cared for and they shouldn't be faced with any form of maltreatment.
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