Labour power (in German: Arbeitskraft, or labour force; in French: force de travail) is a crucial concept used by Karl Marx in his critique of capitalist political economy. He regarded labour power as the most important of the productive forces of human beings. Labour power can be simply defined as work-capacity, the ability to do work. Labour power exists in any kind of society, but on what terms it is traded or combined with means of production to produce goods and services has historically varied greatly.
Under capitalism, according to Marx, the productive powers of labour appear as the creative power of capital. Indeed "labour power at work" becomes a component of capital, it functions as working capital. Work becomes just work, workers become an abstract labour force, and the control over work becomes mainly a management prerogative.
Read more about Labour Power: Definition, Labour-power Versus Labour, Labour Power As Commodity, Value of Labour Power, Labour Power and Wages, Consumption of Labour Power, Reproduction of Labour Power, The Role of The State, Quotation By Marx On The Value of Labour Power and Classical Political Economy, Labour Power and Labour Market Flexibilisation, Criticism of The Concept of Labour Power
Famous quotes containing the words labour and/or power:
““To be born woman is to know—
Although they do not talk of it at school—
That we must labour to be beautiful.””
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Deuteronomy 8:17,18.