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Indirect labour

Indirect labour supports a cost object but cannot be traced economically to individual units or jobs. Factory supervision, stores work and maintenance are common production-overhead examples. Administrative staff costs are usually non-production. The employee’s location and function matter more than the payment method: salaried work can be direct and hourly paid work indirect. Distinguish labour classification from payroll deductions and the calculation of take-home pay.

Worked example

A factory maintenance worker earns $800 while servicing machines used by many products. The cost is production overhead rather than direct labour of one item.

Common mistake

Indirect labour is not necessarily wasted time, and it need not be fixed in total. Classify by traceability and function.

Where it appears in your exams

QualificationExamRelationshipPeriod
ACCA MA Direct September 2026–June 2027
FIA FMA Direct September 2026–June 2027