Time Rate System
It is the oldest and simplest method of wage payment used extensively in the industrial as well as government departments. Wages are paid as per the time spent by the workers in the factory. The production given by them is not taken into consideration. The employer buys the hours of the workers and pays them accordingly. Time rate system is also called as day wage system. In this system, efficiency, sincerity, ability is not given attention and all the workers are paid at one and the same rate as per the period spent in the factory.
Advantages:
- Easy and simple: Time rate is easy to understand and simple to follow and calculate. Wage calculations are also easy and quick. Each worker knows how much wage payment he is entitled to at the end of the month. This gives convenience to employer and employees.
- Guarantee of minimum wage: It gives the guarantee of certain minimum wage payment to every worker irrespective of their working capacity. Workers get a regular and stable income and this gives a sense of security to all workers as regards wage payment.
- Maintains quality of production: Quality of production is maintained here as the workers are not in a hurry to complete the work. They do not rush the job and spoil the quality because of the temptation to earn more. Workers tend to work slowly and with care. Even accidents are less as workers use the machines in a careful manner.
- Support from trade unions: Workers and trade unions accept and support time rate system as all workers are placed in one category as regards wage payment. This ensures unity among workers. Trade unions normally prefer time rate system of wage payment.
- Avoids quarrels among workers: Time rate avoids heart burning and quarrels among the workers as uniform wages are paid to all. Here efficiency, honesty and sincerity of workers are not given any special weight age. Wage rate is the same for sincere and lazy workers.
- Convenient in modern factory system: Time rate payment is convenient in modern factory system where production process is continuous and integrated. It is not possible to measure the work completed by one individual worker and hence time rate system is convenient.
