Question

Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

India and Taiwan are reportedly close to finalising a deal for the far eastern country to host as many as one lakh Indian workers. This comes close on the heels of another reported move that Israel is considering bringing in a large number of Indian workers too. Source: Moneycontrol.com, November 13, 2023

1. Which characteristic of labour has been highlighted through the above news report?
2. What is meant by efficiency of labour'?
3. Explain any two advantages of division of labour.

Answer 1

1. The news highlights labour mobility, showing that workers are moving from India to Taiwan and Israel in search of better employment opportunities. This indicates that labour is not confined to one place and can move to regions or countries where demand for workers is higher.
2. Efficiency of labour refers to how skilled, productive, and capable a worker is in performing a job. A more efficient worker can produce a greater quantity of goods and services in less time and with better quality. Labour efficiency depends on factors such as education, training, working conditions, and motivation. For example, a well-trained factory worker can produce more output in one hour than an untrained worker.
3. Two Advantages of Division of Labour:
   1. Increases Productivity: When workers specialise in a single task, they gain expertise, allowing them to work faster and produce more output. For example, in a car factory, one worker may only fix doors while another focuses on painting, making the production process quicker and more efficient.
   2. Saves Time and Effort: When workers concentrate on only one task, they avoid switching between different kinds of work, which saves time. For example, if a shoemaker focuses only on stitching, they can work faster than if they had to make the entire shoe alone.