In the article an attempt is made to differentiate conceptually labour (in Dutch 'Arbeid', in old-English 'earfod') and work. Explorations in etymology suggest a forced, hard labour, serving relationship to others as regard the word labour, a laborious, powerful, working relationship toward one's products and oneself as regard the word work. Definitions are given of both concepts, and these concepts are interpreted in terms of extrinsically and intrinsically motivated achievement. Significance of both concepts is suggested for self-development as defined in the article. Social relevance of extrinsically motivated achievement as well as personal relevance of intrinsically motivated achievement seem to be of great personal value. Consequences for the relational aspects of the workshop-situation are delineated. A demanding climate, in which taskstandard and performance-claim are based on individual possibilities, is supposed to be of primary importance. A feeling of thus being needed functionally is considered to have revalidating effect. Educative, therapeutic and caring activities and attitudes stressing clientship or invalidity are therefore recommended as having essentially mariginal functions, rather than central functions.