Minimum Labor Costs Research Articles

Capabilities for increasing the technological level of high-power wheeled tractors

BACKGROUND: Solving the problem of efficient use of the Russian-produced energy-saturated 4K4b wheeled tractors of high (235–350 kW) power, which are the basis for the formation of an innovative fleet of mobile energy facilities in the regions of the Siberian Federal District, in zonal tillage technologies with velocity ranges limited by the requirements of agricultural technology and resource saving, is a relevant task.
 AIMS: Determination the conditions for the reasonable configuration of the 4K4b wheeled tractors for operational tillage technologies.
 METHODS: The basis for solving the problems to achieve the aim is the conditions and methods of a multi-level system of technological adaptation of wheeled tractors.
 RESULTS: Based on the results of simulation and experiment, it was determined that the most reasonable method for adapting tractors to tillage technologies in terms of minimum labor costs and the level of capabilities implementation is the formation of the operating mass of the basic configuration at the nominal mode, corresponding to the optimal values of the specific mass atφкр н*=0.40 andVН2=2.90 m/s which aremуд н1*=58.0 kg/kW for single wheels andmуд н2*=62.4 kg/kW for dual wheels, with adjustable axle distribution. The scientific novelty of the study lies in building the model that helps to establish a reasonable traction range of a tractor of various configurations for operational tillage technologies with an interval of nominal operating velocities of 2.5–3.3 m/s, limited by the conditions of resource saving by the modes of maximum traction efficiency and acceptable slipping.
 CONCLUSIONS: The practical value of the study lies in the possibility of using the developed recommendations for the reasonable configuration of tractors in tillage operations.

Neka otvorena pitanja vezana za minimalnu zaradu u Republici Srbiji

The minimum wage in the Republic of Serbia is determined on the basis of the minimum wage determined in accordance with the Labour Law, working hours and taxes and contributions paid from wages. The minimum wage should be the minimum amount of money, which should enable employees to meet basic living needs. Unfortunately, its amount in practice is often not enough to provide for the basic living needs of employees and their family members. The employer should pay the minimum wage when, due to business disruption, he is unable to pay a wage that would be higher than it, ie. it should be an extraordinary phenomenon in the world of labor and capital. However, the minimum wage is becoming the rule of payment for employees in many industries in the Republic of Serbia. One of the question related to the miniimum wage is whether it can be considered in accordance with the Decisions of the Government and the Socio-Economic Council as the net amount paid for the employment of all persons per hour, regardless of the legal basis of their work. This statement is suported by the used legal definition of minimum labour cost. For example, working under a contract on temporary and periodical jobs is the same as any other kind of work, even though work is conducted outside of employment relationship. According to the Law on Contributions for Complulsory Social Insurance, work within the employment relationship and work on the basis of contracts on temporary and periodical jobs are viewed equally from the perspective of contributions paid on wages. In the light of international labour standards, according to the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention No. 131 of the International Labour Organization, each member of the International Labour Organization which ratifies this Convention undertakes to establish a system of minimum wages which covers all groups of wage earners whose terms of employment are such that coverage would be appropriate. Since the Republic of Serbia has ratified this Convention, it directly applies to all groups of workers, including those hired on the basis of contracts for temporary and occasional work. Regarding the civil service system, the Law on Salaries in State Bodies and Public Servicies stipulates that the coefficient on the basis of which the basic salary of employees in state bodies and public services is determined expresses the complexity of work, responsibility, working conditions and education. The coefficient also contains an allowance in the name of compensation for food during work and recourse for the use of annual leave. The practical question arose as to whether employees who are paid the minimum wage in the general regime of labour relations are entitled to a suplement in the name of compensation for food during work and recourse for the use of annual leave, ie. whether the minimum wage in the Republic of Serbia should include these allowances. The authors will analyze the issues raised in the previous parts of the text, but also other issues related to the minimum wage and present views for their solution.

Means of collective protection as a basis for reducing industrial injuries in the Republic of Kazakhstan

The goal is to present the materials obtained during the implementation of the scientific and technical program, to carry out scientific research on the topic: “Risk-oriented organizational and economic mechanisms for ensuring safe work in the conditions of modern Kazakhstan” (IRHOR11865833-OT-21) within the framework of program-targeted financing of the developments of the Republican Research Institute for Labor Protection of the MLSPP RK. Methods – overview of legislative and regulatory regulation is presented and analysis of scientific sources is carried out on composition, classification of enterprise costs, including in agro-industrial complex, means of collective protection of workers from harmful and dangerous production factors. Results – the author notes that in the Republic of Kazakhstan these aspects are practically not regulated in the safety system at production facilities, including agricultural sector, there are only general references in the current version of the Labor Law without further detail at the level of regulatory legal acts. This fact and the lack of unified approaches allow businesses to save on purchase of expensive equipment, which leads to increase in occupational injuries. An enlarged grouping of 20 classes of collective protection equipment has been carried out. Possible alternatives to the use of analytically calculated and normative methods for justification of the necessary costs are analyzed. Methodology, including basic coefficients, penalty and bonus indices, depending on the facts of injury has been developed. Conclusions – the proposed methodological provisions, after experimental testing at agro-industrial enterprises, can be submitted for legislative approval, which will ensure the effectiveness of state control of minimum labor costs for the design, implementation, operation and maintenance of relevant means of collective protection in agriculture.

Responsible innovation and ethical corporate behavior in the Asian fashion industry: A systematic literature review and avenues ahead

Fashion firms have transferred their manufacturing processes to Asia, seeking minimum labor costs, supported by the academic literature’s proposals for alternative supply chain configurations to maximize profits. Fashion industry has undergone public analysis, facing demands for greater transparency about environmental and social sustainability. The growing public awareness of sustainability issues has led firms to declare their commitment to sustainable resources, but few changes have been registered. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe listed technological innovation as a key tool for making the fashion industry transparent and traceable regarding sustainability and circularity. The research and responsible innovation framework indicate appropriate ways to manage innovation from a responsible and ethical perspective, according to ethical corporate behaviour (ECB), particularly in the industries characterized by productive phases processed in more countries, such as the fashion industry. However, the linkages between responsible innovation, ECB towards innovative and sustainable business models, and their conceptualization, are still unclear in the fashion industry, achieving the goals included in the UN 2030 Agenda. This study draws on bibliometric analysis and systematic review of the literature on 114 articles published between 1990 and 2021 allows to identify the above issues in the research domains, and outline the evolutionary trajectories, as well as to explore the literary corpus about responsible innovation (RI) in the ethical corporate behaviour (ECB) of the fashion industry and its Asian suppliers. The results highlight that fashion brands strive to develop RI and ECB along their supply chain. Still, the misalignment of corporate ethics and cultural values represents a significant obstacle to the adoption of business models, especially to achieve the goals of UN 2030 Agenda. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that discusses RI as enabling driver in the ECB for fashion companies also defining a future research agenda including RI, ECB, iSBMs towards SDGs.

A comprehensive review of computer-aided whole-slide image analysis: from datasets to feature extraction, segmentation, classification and detection approaches

With the development of Computer-aided Diagnosis (CAD) and image scanning techniques, Whole-slide Image (WSI) scanners are widely used in the field of pathological diagnosis. Therefore, WSI analysis has become the key to modern digital histopathology. Since 2004, WSI has been used widely in CAD. Since machine vision methods are usually based on semi-automatic or fully automatic computer algorithms, they are highly efficient and labor-saving. The combination of WSI and CAD technologies for segmentation, classification, and detection helps histopathologists to obtain more stable and quantitative results with minimum labor costs and improved diagnosis objectivity. This paper reviews the methods of WSI analysis based on machine learning. Firstly, the development status of WSI and CAD methods are introduced. Secondly, we discuss publicly available WSI datasets and evaluation metrics for segmentation, classification, and detection tasks. Then, the latest development of machine learning techniques in WSI segmentation, classification, and detection are reviewed. Finally, the existing methods are studied, and the application prospects of the methods in this field are forecasted.

Analisis Produktivitas Tukang Batu Bata Pada Proyek Pembangunan Asrama Puteri Mandala Wangi 2 di Kota Kendari

Productivity is one of the fundamental factors that influences the ability of performance in the construction industry. Increasedproductivity will reduce work time, and will reduce costs, especiallylabor costs so that the minimum labor cost is obtained (labor costs)to get competitive prices both for auction and implementation. Thepurpose of this study is to analyze the labor productivity time incompleting 1 m2 of masonry bricks and to analyze the productivityvalue of brick masons in completing work activities in the constructionproject of the Mandala Wangi 2 female dormitory. The results showedthat the time required to complete 1 m2 of brick laying work was 41.13minutes on average. The productivity of the artisans working on the 1stfloor is an average of 1.45 m2/hr. Meanwhile, the productivity ofcraftsmen working on the 2nd floor is an average of 1.47 m2/hr.

OPTIMIZATION OF LOGISTICS PROCESS IN CONTEXT OF SMART LOGISTICS BY USING COMPUTER SIMULATION – CASE STUDY

In the conditions of shipment processing it is important to observe the timetable of dispatch in which the entire processing process is going on. Each element of the processing system is important and it is linked with others by time. This means that the delay of one element causes an avalanche effect. The use of computer simulation helps in optimizing processing processes as a whole. This helps to detect regularities and bottlenecks that have been previously overlooked. The concept of Smart Logistics as part of the Smart Factory using simulation as a tool to estimate the future behaviour of the system. The article describes its own system for determining the number of staff to perform the required activities within the processing process. On the basis of the actual number of shipments, the arrival times and the processing system data, a solution can be described using a simulation tool to determine the number of workers. The simulation helps us to design the number of workers so that they observe the times of truck departures from the processing depot. This guarantees compliance with the timetable at minimum labour costs.

Translucent Glass Roofs For Large-Span Coverings

The article deals with the issues of glass use in the enclosing structures of large-span coverings, which have such advantages as ensuring the penetration of natural light, tightness, minimum labor costs for repair and maintenance. Design shortcomings: the high cost, the need for protection of the internal volume against the penetrating sun rays in the warm season (hothouse effect); arrangement of devices for operation of a roof. The key technical properties and characteristics of glass panels and pane-glass sets, constructive decisions, including interface to the main bearing structures of a large-span covering are given. Peculiarities of their design with due regard for ventilation and smoke removal, a drainage of condensate, ways of fight against frosting and snow drifts on the roof are reflected. Features of the account of loadings, the basic approaches to their calculation are considered. Various design solutions for the spatial metal trussed systems with the original nodal connections are presented. Information on modern solutions of translucent roofs using glass for large-span coverings is given.

METHODOLOGY OF JUSTIFICATION THE TYPE AND EVALUATION OF QUALITY GROUP SEARCH OF DEFECTS IN THE REPAIR RADIO-ELECTRONIC MEANS

Context. Radioelectronic devices are continuously complicated, which complicates the process of restoring their efficiency, when the diagnosis consumes the largest labor costs and time. Therefore, the promising direction of increasing the efficiency of the renewal of modern electronic means is to improve diagnostic support. Objective. The purpose of the article is to increase the efficiency of diagnostic provision of radio electronic means at the expense of a reasonable choice of the type of group search of defects. Method. In the work analytical studies of conditional algorithms of diagnosis with the use of graph theory theory, probability theory and the theory of discrete search – a scientific discipline that studies the diagnostic process when restoring the efficiency of complex technical objects with varying degrees of damage through research and optimization of procedures and algorithms for detection of a priori – in unknown number of elements with given properties on the finite structurally-bounded set according to some criterion. Results. The method of choosing the type of algorithm of group search of defects at given restrictions and assumptions on the criterion of minimum labor costs on the basis of generalization of the graph-analytical model of group search of defects with quantitative estimation of probabilistic, time and cost indicators of the quality of the process of diagnosing radioelectronic devices with different degree of damage, which allows to pre-substantiate the most appropriate algorithm for group defects search for use in the development of diagnostic support for modern radio ectronic means. Conclusions. For the first time, various types of group search of defects with a quantitative estimation of the efficiency of their use depending on the features of radio-electronic means and the conditions for their restoration of efficiency are considered in a complex way.

Историческая трансформация научной категории «эффективность труда»

The paper takes an effort to review evolution of scientific views on the “labor efficiency” category. Based on the analysis of studies determining the core and essence of this notion, the author specifies three distinctive approaches: productive, effective, and qualitative. Further pros and cons of their implementation under contemporary conditions are evaluated. The author suggests treating labor efficiency as a multifaceted notion embracing the whole summation of productive, economic, social and psychological, environmental and physical relations, which are developed between people in the course of such working practice, which provides high-quality marketable product with minimum labor cost and ensures manufacturers’ income.

Balancing manual mixed-model assembly lines using overtime work in a demand variation environment

This study deals with the balancing problem of a manual mixed-model assembly line, where the production volume or the product mix changes from shift to shift during the planning horizon. The unstable demand can be characterised by several representative scenarios, and the line uses overtime work to meet the demand variation. The balancing problem concerns how to assign assembly tasks to stations and determine the amount of overtime in each possible demand scenario. The objective is to satisfy the demand in each possible scenario with the minimum labour costs paid for both normal shifts and overtime work. A lower bound on the labour costs is proposed, and a heuristic algorithm is developed to quickly find a feasible solution. A branch, bound and remember (BB&R) algorithm is then proposed to find better solutions. These solution methods are tested on 765 instances. The BB&R algorithm obtains optimal solutions for 510 instances and gives high-quality solutions for the remaining 255 instances within 60 s. The experimental results show that the use of overtime work and adjustable cycle times significantly reduces the labour costs, especially when the demand or task processing time variations are large.

Apple farm management practices in the Northeastern US and Northern China

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to compare the different pesticides management practices and productions in three apple farms in the Northeastern US and Northern China. Design/methodology/approach – Interviews and surveys were conducted in the three farms between the summer of 2010 and spring of 2011. Production, pesticide and fertilizer usage, and labor costs were calculated for comparison. Findings – The conventional US apple grower manages his farm for maximum production and minimum labor costs. As a result, the farm achieved a high yield of 24.68 kg/dollar, but low health value for the highest amount of pesticide expenditure ($2.43 per 100 kg of apples). The organic apple farm aims at minimizing environmental impact and protecting consumers. Its yield was 14.22 kg/dollar with 15-30 percent greater labor costs. The health value of the apples improved with pesticide expenditure of $1.66 per 100 kg of apples. This farm uses only the least toxic pesticide certified by OMRI. The traditional apple fa...

Minimum Wages, Minimum Labour Costs and the Tax Treatment of Low-Wage Employment

International comparisons of minimum-wage levels have largely focused on the gross value of minimum wages, ignoring the effects of taxation on both labour costs and the net income of employees. This paper presents estimates of the tax burdens facing minimum-wage workers. These are used as a basis for cross-country comparisons of the net earnings of these workers as well as the cost of employing them. In addition, results show the evolution of net incomes and labour costs during the 2000-2005 period and the relative importance of minimum-wage adjustments and tax reforms in driving these changes. Statutory minimum wages are in place in 21 OECD countries, ranging between USD 0.7 and USD 10 per hour. In a number of countries, minimum-wage levels have gone up in real terms in recent years. Given considerable tax burdens even at the lowest wage levels, tax policy measures can have a sizable impact on the net earnings available to low-wage workers. Social contributions and payroll taxes add, on average, around 18% to the cost of employing minimum-wage workers. The international variation of minimum labour costs in dollar terms is enormous, with hourly costs in the highest-cost country (the Netherlands) exceeding those at the bottom (Mexico) by a factor of 12. Differences are also large when compared across countries that are closer geographically or whose economies are more integrated. Despite reductions in non-wage labour costs in several countries, there has been no convergence of minimum labour costs in recent years. This paper is the working paper version of a chapter to appear in the 2007 edition of Taxing Wages, an annual OECD publication. The Taxing Wages chapter will include results for 2006.

Human Resource Management Practices in Small Firms: An Inter-Industry Comparison

This study investigates human resource management practices in small firms across different industry sectors. The findings show that human resource management practices reflect the type of workers employed and the areas of competitive advantage in the industry. Thus, manufacturing and engineering firms employ production workers and are concerned with reducing labour costs whilst ensuring that quantity and quality targets are achieved. Firms in the distribution and recreational service sectors and in engineering employ service workers and tailor their human resource practices to ensuring quality service and minimum labour costs. The professionals service sector and to some extent the engineering and construction sector employ symbolic analysts who are highly skilled and relatively scarce. Employees in this category are treated as investments with the aim of encouraging high performance and retention within the firm. Although the high levels of informality in human resource management peculiar to small firms are evident in all the industry sectors, differences across industry sectors are still distinct. The implications for future practice and research are discussed.

An efficient two-phase algorithm for cyclic days-off scheduling

Workforce scheduling is a very important and practical problem, especially in service industries. The days-off scheduling problem arises in organizations that operate 7 days a week. Since workers must be given weekly breaks, they are assigned to different days-off shifts (work patterns). The objective is to satisfy daily labor demands with a minimum number or cost of workers. This paper considers a specific type of days-off scheduling, in which each work pattern contains five work days and two consecutive off days per week. An algorithm for solving this problem, with minimum labor cost, is proposed and shown to be computationally more efficient than other available methods. An efficient two-phase algorithm is presented for solving the cyclic manpower days-offscheduling problem with two consecutive off days per week. First, a simple formula is used to calculate the minimum workforce size. Next, this minimum is incorporated as a constraint in a continuous linear programming (LP) model of the problem, ensuring an optimum integer solution. The new algorithm can handle the case in which the costs of different days-off patterns are not equal. Computationalexperience with 1250 test problems shows this algorithm to be significantly more efficient than other available solution methods.

Integrated project task and manpower scheduling

The objective of project task scheduling is to determine task start dates and durations to complete a project on time with the minimum cost of performing tasks plus overhead. By altering task start dates and durations, the daily labor-demand profile can be changed. The objective of personnel scheduling is to determine how many workers must be assigned to each feasible days-off tour to satisfy a given labor-demand profile with minimum labor cost. Integrating these two problems permits the simultaneous determination of start dates, durations, labor levels and required tours for a minimum-cost and on-time schedule. Both integer programming and heuristic solution procedures to solve the integrated problem are presented. In a series of 20 test problems, the heuristic procedure outperformed the traditional two-step scheduling procedure by reducing the cost of labor and overhead by 8.6%.

Integrated project task and manpower scheduling

The objective of project task scheduling is to determine task start dates and durations to complete a project on time with the minimum cost of performing tasks plus overhead. By altering task start dates and durations, the daily labor-demand profile can be changed. The objective of personnel scheduling is to determine how many workers must be assigned to each feasible days-off tour to satisfy a given labor-demand profile with minimum labor cost. Integrating these two problems permits the simultaneous determination of start dates, durations, labor levels and required tours for a minimum-cost and on-time schedule. Both integer programming and heuristic solution procedures to solve the integrated problem are presented. In a series of 20 test problems, the heuristic procedure outperformed the traditional two-step scheduling procedure by reducing the cost of labor and overhead by 8.6%.

Minimum wage rates and unemployment in The Netherlands

A static limited dependent variable model is formulated to analyse the Dutch labour market from an individual's viewpoint. Results suggest that high minimum labour costs are an important source of unemployment. Secondly, the reduced-form participation equation is replaced by a neoclassical labour supply equation. Thus, also the effect of high minimum wage rates on employment through labour supply is taken into account. Supply appears to be forward bending and participation is insensitive with respect to unemployment benefits. Simulations suggest that the effect of lowering the ‘productivity threshold’ by reducing before-tax minimum wages dominates supply effects.

Some Industrial Applications of Linear Programming

Three examples of the applications of linear programming are given, drawn from the manufacture of plywood, the distribution of grain, and industrial fermentation. In each of these widely different industries there is a problem which can be treated quite precisely by a linear programming model. The quantities evaluated are in the first case, the plywood product mix with the maximum return; in the second case, the routings and transit credits for shipping grain with the minimum freight costs; and in the third case, the production schedule for the fermentation process which yields the minimum labour cost. In most cases, the results obtained could be extended to evaluate other factors, and in all cases the formulation of the problem in linear programming form led to a greater understanding of the industry concerned.