Karl Marx’s conceptualisation of labour occupies a central place in his critique of capitalism and his broader theory of society. For Marx, labour is not merely an economic activity through which people earn wages; rather, it is the defining feature of human existence and the foundation of all social organisation. Human beings transform nature through labour, and in doing so they also transform themselves. Labour therefore possesses both material and social significance. Marx’s understanding of labour is deeply philosophical, historical, and economic, and it emerges through his critique of capitalist production, private property, exploitation, and alienation. Marx viewed labour as a uniquely human activity that distinguishes humans from animals. While animals also engage in productive activities, they do so instinctively and only for immediate survival. Human labour, in contrast, is conscious, creative, and purposive. Human beings imagine the outcome of their work before producing it. In this sense, labour is an expression of human creativity and intelligence. Marx argued that under ideal conditions labour should be a source of self-realisation and fulfilment. Through labour, individuals express their capacities, develop skills, and participate in collective social life. Marx’s conception of labour was strongly influenced by the philosophy of G. W. F. Hegel and Ludwig Feuerbach. From Hegel, Marx adopted the idea that human beings realise themselves through activity and interaction with the world. However, Marx rejected Hegel’s idealism and instead placed labour within a materialist framework. He argued that material production forms the basis of social life. From Feuerbach, Marx adopted a humanistic orientation but criticised him for not recognising the importance of social and economic structures. Marx therefore developed a historical materialist perspective in which labour becomes the key force shaping history and society. In Marx’s theory of historical materialism, labour is the basis of all modes of production. Human societies evolve according to the ways in which labour is organised and controlled. Every historical epoch is characterised by a particular mode of production, consisting