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| Concepts |
| Key statistical concept Four different concepts of Labour compensation are included in the OECD's monthly Main Economic Indicators (MEI) database: Wage rates, Earnings, Labour costs and Unit labour costs. Following the ICLS (International Conference of Labour Statisticians) terminology, the four concepts above are linked together as follows: 1) Wage rates (basic wages, cost-of-living allowances, and other guaranteed and regularly paid allowances) i) overtime payments ii) bonuses and gratuities regularly paid iii) remuneration for time not worked iv) bonuses and gratuities irregularly paid v) payments in kind 2) Earnings = 1 + i) + ii) + iii) + iv) + v) vi) employer contribution to statutory social security schemes or to private funded social insurance schemes vii) unfunded employee social benefits paid by employers in the form of: (a) children's, spouse's, family, education or other allowances in respect of dependants; (b) payments made to workers because of illness, accidental injury, maternity leave, etc.; (c) severance payments 3)Compensation of employees = 2 + vi) + vii) viii) cost of vocational training ix) cost of welfare training (i.e. cost of canteens) x) labour cost not elsewhere classified (i.e. costs of transport of workers, cost of work clothes, cost of recruitment) xi) taxes regarded as labour costs (i.e. taxes on employment or payrolls) 4) Labour costs = 3 + viii) + ix) + x) + xi) 5) Unit labour costs Unit labour costs are defined as total labour costs expended in the production of one unit of output. Exceptions to this terminology are noted in country metadata. |