Poverty and gainfulness of employment: normative approach

This study analyses the concept of gainfulness of employment of manual workers from a worker's subjective and normative point of view. It is argued that possibilities of negative gain from work exist in both senses for workers not having land or other income earning assets in a labour surplus developing economy. A criterion of gainfulness of work of such workers is formulated under a normative approach taking into account different types of costs of work and returns from work. This study argues that reduction in income poverty of manual workers in terms of a poverty line or a decrease in the rate of their unemployment in accordance with a time criterion, can both be misleading from a developmental point of view especially in the unorganised sector of a developing economy. Assessment of gainfulness of work in accordance with the suggested criterion can provide a more accurate description of their economic conditions.