oavlönade

Oavlönade is a Swedish adjective describing work or workers who do not receive wages or salary for their labor. It denotes unpaid labor, in contrast to avlönad, which means paid. The term is used across everyday language, sociological writing, and discussions about labor conditions.

Common contexts for the term include volunteers in charitable or non-profit organizations, students during internships or practicum periods, and family members helping in a family business. In academia and research, contributors who do not receive compensation may also be described as oavlönade. The word can refer to periods of work without direct payment, although participants may gain other forms of non-monetary benefit such as experience, credit, or training.

Etymology and usage notes: oavlönade is formed with the negating prefix o- added to lön, meaning wage, plus the adjectival ending -ade. The concept is widely used in discussions of labor rights, volunteering, and internship practices. While unpaid roles are common in certain sectors, the status can be the subject of debate regarding fairness and labor standards, and many organizations offer paid internships or placements to avoid exploitation.