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Worked Examples · Example 3

Q.Distinguish between the Time Rate System and the Piece Rate System of wage payment.

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✓ Free question

The two basic methods of wage payment differ in what the wage is tied to:

Time Rate System pays a worker according to the time spent at work: Wages = Time Worked × Rate per Hour/Day, regardless of output. It offers income security (earnings do not fall if output drops through no fault of the worker) and protects quality (no pressure to rush), but gives no direct incentive to raise output and needs close supervision.

Piece Rate System pays a worker according to the units produced: Wages = Units Produced × Rate per Unit, regardless of time taken. It gives a strong, directly proportional incentive to produce more and keeps labour cost per unit fixed, but offers no guaranteed minimum income if output is disrupted, and may tempt workers to sacrifice quality for speed.

BasisTime Rate SystemPiece Rate System
Basis of paymentTime spent at workUnits of output produced
FormulaTime Worked × Rate per Hour/DayUnits Produced × Rate per Unit
Output incentiveNone (direct)Strong, proportional
Income securityHighLow (no output, no wage)
Effect on qualityProtects qualityMay encourage rushing
Best suited toQuality-critical / machine-paced workStandardised, measurable-output work
✓Final answer

Time Rate: wages = time worked × rate; secure income, protects quality, no direct output incentive, suits quality-critical work. Piece Rate: wages = units produced × rate per unit; strong output incentive, fixed cost per unit, but no guaranteed minimum and a quality risk; suits standardised measurable work.

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