Labour variances are calculated like material variances. The direct labour cost variance is the difference between the standard direct wages specified for the activity achieved and the actual direct wages paid. The formula is :
Direct Labour Cost Variance
(DLCV)
Labour variances are calculated
like material variances. The direct labour cost variance is the difference
between the standard direct wages specified for the activity achieved and the
actual direct wages paid. The formula is :
DLCV = Standard Cost For Actual Output – Actual
Cost or
= (Standard Rate × Standard Time For Actual Output) – (Actual Rate × Actual
Time)
= (SR × ST)
– (AR × AT)
Example 4 :
Standard Hours 5,000
Standard Wage Rate Rs.4 Per
Unit
Actual Hours 6,000
Actual Wage Rate Rs.3.50
Per Unit
calculate
labour cost variance.
Solution :
DLCV =
(SR × ST) – (AR × AT)
= (4 ×
5,000) – (3.50 × 6,000)
= 20,000 –
21,000
= Rs. 1,000
(Adverse)
The labour cost variance may
arise on account of difference in either rates of wage or time. Thus, it may be
analysed further as (i) labour rate variance, and (ii) labour time or
efficiency variance.
Direct Labour Rate Variance
(DLRV)
It is the difference between the
standard rate specified and the actual rate paid. It is also called ‘rate of
pay variance or wage rate variance’. This would arise, usually, because of :
(i) excessive overtime, (ii) employment of wrong type of labour (employing
skilled person in place of an unskilled one), (iii) overtime workers engaged
more or less than the standard, (iv) employment of labour at higher rates due to
shortage of workers etc. The formula for calculating labour rate variance is as
under :
Direct
Labour Rate Variance = Actual Time (Standard Rate – Actual Rate)
DLRV = AT
(SR – AR)
Direct
Labour Time Or Efficiency Variance (DLEV)
It is the difference between the
standard labour hours specified and the actual hours spent on the works. This
variance is primarily concerned with the standard wage rate. As such, where
piece wage payment is in force, there will be no labour efficiency variance.
Labour efficiency variance arises on account of any one or combination of
factors such as : (i) lack of supervision, (ii) poor working conditions in the
factory, (iii) use of sub-standard or higher standard materials, (iv)
inefficiency of workers due to inadequate training, (v) lack of proper tools,
equipment and machinery, (vi) higher labour turnover etc. Symbolically,
Labour Time Or Efficiency
Variance = Standard Rate (Standard Time For Actual Output – Actual Time)
DLEV = SR
(ST – AT)

(i)
labour cost variance, (ii) labour
rate variance and (iii) labour efficiency variance.

Illustration 6.
Standard hours for manufacturing
two products m and n are 15 hours per unit and 20 hours per unit respectively.
Both products require identical kind of labour and the standard wage rate per
hour is rs. 5. In the year 2011, 10,000 units of m and 15,000 units of n were
manufactured. The total of labour hours actually worked were 4,50,500 and the
actual wage bill came to rs. 23,00,000. This included 12,000 hours paid for @
rs. 7 per hour and 9,400 hours paid for @ rs. 7.50 per hour, the balance having
been paid at rs. 5 per hour. You are required to compute the labour variances.
Solution :
LabourCostVariance=StandardCostForActualOutput–ActualCost


Idle Time
Variance (ITV)
Idle time variance, a component
of labour efficiency variance, is represented by the standard cost of the
actual hours for which the workers remain idle due to abnormal circumstances,
like non-availability of raw materials, power cut, breakdown of machinery etc.
Symbolically : Idle Time Variance = Standard Hourly Rate × Idle
Time Or Hours = SR × ITThis variance is always adverse.
The total of labour rate, idle time and efficiency variances would be equal to
labour cost variance, as shown below: Illustration
7. 100 workers are working in a
factory at a standard wage of rs. 4.80 per hour. During a month there are four
weeks of 40 hours each. The standard performance is set at 360 units per hour.
The following is the summary of the wages paid during the month:91 workers
were paid @ rs. 4.80 per hour 5 workers
were paid @ rs. 5.00 per hour The
remaining were paid @ rs. 4.60 per hour Power failure stopped production for 2 hours actual production 57,960
units. Calculate labour variances. Solution. 
Tags : Accounting For Managers - Cost Estimation And Control-Standard Costing And Variance Analysis
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