Industrial Relations at Enterprise Level: A Case Study

Abstract

Industrial relations in India have witnessed a long journey, from the phase of industrialisation to independence era to the age of economic reforms, but a lot needs to be addressed given the role of cordial industrial relations in desired economic growth of a country. The key lies in recognition of workforce as an essential and integral part of the organisation and not merely a tool for the production. The second National commission on labour recommended consolidation of labour laws, given that there are numerous labour laws both at the state level and the central level. Most of the labour laws are applicable to organisations employing a given number of workers, mostly ten or more workers. In order to escape the laws, organisations have been using contract labour more, so as to avoid the constraints of hiring and firing in adjusting to production demands. This study concentrates upon how the broad structure of specific patterns of industrial relations operates in a given context, and thereby provide an insight for solving a number of emerging problems. It helps to locate where the problem is, which may require modifications in the structural patterns. This provides an objective analysis to which those responsible for managing industrial relations in industry can relate their own experiences and can help them to seek avenues of change in realising their industrial relations objectives.