The ways in which work is exploited depend on the type of property that prevails. Under capitalism, labor power becomes a commodity. The conditions necessary for labor power to become commodities are as follows:
- The personal freedom of the individual, the possibility of having his work force.
- The lack of means of production in terms of the worker, the need to sell the work capacity to obtain means of subsistence.
Under capitalism; labor power, like any other commodity, has use value. The value of the workforce is determined by the value of the means of subsistence indispensable to maintain the normal working capacity of the holder and to support his family members, as well as the worker's learning costs. With the advancement of society, this value of labor power changes or varies in magnitude, since the level of needs and the amount of means of subsistence necessary for the worker and his family change; The value of these means of subsistence also changes due to the advancement of the productive forces day after day.
It is important to emphasize that work is the measure of effort made by an individual. From the economic point of view, work is one of the essential factors that must be produced, as are capital and land. Work can be understood as the productive action carried out by a subject and in return for which he receives remuneration.
The concept of labor power first appears formally in the pen of the German philosopher Karl Marx, who mentioned it for the first time in his most famous work, Capital, published in 1867.
For its part; Labor is associated with the physical and mental capacity of each individual to perform a certain task. The expression was promoted by Karl Marx. The workforce is one of the most important creations of Marxist doctrine. Which was developed during the 19th century by its great predecessor Karl Marx.