Understanding Worker vs. Workmen: Why Language Matters in Today's Workforce

What is the difference between worker and workmen?

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The term "worker" is a more inclusive and contemporary word that refers to any individual employed to perform tasks or duties for an organization or employer. It is a gender-neutral and widely used term in modern workplaces.

On the other hand, "workmen" is an older and less commonly used term that specifically refers to male employees or laborers engaged in manual or industrial work. The term "workmen" has become less prevalent as it is not gender-inclusive and may be seen as outdated in today's diverse workforce.

The term "worker" has been used under the Factories Act, while "workman" is the term used in the Industrial Disputes Act. This is the difference.

Under the Industrial Disputes Act, which governs the relationship between the employer and the employee and the conditions of employment, all individuals employed are referred to as workmen. On the other hand, the definition of a worker is technically determined by the specific Acts applicable to a particular enterprise, company, or organization. These definitions are precise and can vary from one statute to another. For the benefit of everyone on this platform, a comparative examination in a tabular format would be greatly appreciated! Regards, M.A. Ganju

Factories Act defines a worker. If you go through the definition, you will find that anyone who is found to be working on the premises of the company is a worker. Accordingly, a management staff (as any company calls to differentiate it from the so-called persons working as labor class) is also a worker.

Workmen are defined under the ID Act. It states that anyone who has a supervisory capacity is not a workman. This is to give special power/right to the so-called labor class. Therefore, the differentiator between worker and workmen is "Supervisory Capacity." If you have "Supervisory Capacity," you are a worker but not a workman.

I hope this clears your doubt.

Regards, Nilendra

Hi all,

It is one and the same. The words are interchangeable. According to the Oxford Dictionary, "workman" means "man hired to do manual work," and "worker" means "manual or industrial employee." So, the definitions of these two words are not different; they are interchangeable.

Regards,
Michael Nicholas

Dear Mike,

Please refer to the definitions in the respective Acts, i.e., the Factory Act for workers and the Workmen ID Act. I hope you will see the difference.

Regards,
Nilendra

Workman

According to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

"Workman" means any person (including an apprentice) employed in any industry to do any manual, unskilled, skilled, technical, operational, clerical, or supervisory work for hire or reward, whether the terms of employment are express or implied. For the purposes of any proceeding under this Act in relation to an industrial dispute, it includes any such person who has been dismissed, discharged, or retrenched in connection with, or as a consequence of, that dispute, or whose dismissal, discharge, or retrenchment has led to that dispute. However, it does not include any such person:

(i) who is subject to the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950), the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), or the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957);
(ii) who is employed in the police service or as an officer or other employee of a prison;
(iii) who is employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity;
(iv) who, being employed in a supervisory capacity, draws wages exceeding one thousand six hundred rupees per mensem or exercises, either by the nature of the duties attached to the office or by reason of the powers vested in him, functions mainly of a managerial nature.

WORKER:

According to the Apprentices Act, 1961

Section 2(r)......

"Worker" means any person who is employed for wages in any kind of work and who gets his wages directly from the employer but shall not include an apprentice referred to in clause (aa).

Worker:
According to the Apprentices Act, 1961, Section 2 (r)...

"Worker" means any person who is employed for wages in any kind of work and who receives his wages directly from the employer, but shall not include an apprentice referred to in clause (aa).

What is the meaning of the word "workmen" and what is covered under it? For example, what are clerks known as? What level is considered as management staff, for instance, Assistant Engineers and foremen, what are they classified as?