Industrial Relations and Labor Law

Contents Page
Unit I Overview of Industrial relations 2

1.0 Learning Objectives(2)

1.1 Introduction (2)
1.2 Definition of Industrial Relations(2)
1.2.1 Approaches Used to Define Industrial Relations 7
1.2.2 Perspectives of industrial relations stakeholders(7)
1.3 Importance of Industrial Relations 8
1.4 Determinates of Industrial relations 10
1.5 Objectives of Industrial Relations 11
1.6 Theoretical Approaches to Employment and Industrial Relations (11)
1.7 Parties to Industrial Relations 24
1.8 Industrial Relations Strategy 27
1.9 Industrial Relations Decisions 28
1.10 Causes of industrial unrest 29
1.11 Consequences of strained Industrial relations 32

Summary 34

Key Terms (34)

Self assessment questions (34)

Unit II Trade Union 35

2.0 Learning Objectives(36)

2.1 Introduction (36)
2.2 Definition of trade unions 36
2.2.1 Categories of workers in Ethiopia 38
2.2.2 The right to work 39
2.3 Trade union rights 40
2.3.1 International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR) 40
2.3.2 The Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 41
2.3.3 Regulations on Trade Unions in Ethiopia 43
2.3.3.1 The Civil Servants Proclamation 44
2.3.3.2 Labor Proclamation 45
2.3.3.3 Charities and Societies Proclamation 46
2.3.3.4 Supplementary legislations (46)

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 2.3.3.5 Prevailing patterns in practice 47
2.4 Characteristics of trade unions 51
2.4.1 General features of trade unions(51)
2.4.2 Types and structure of the trade union(51)
2.4.3 Trade union & Employees 52
2.4.4 Role of the trade unions 56
2.4.5 Requisites for Making More Effective Trade Unions 58
2.4.6 Unfair Labor Practices 60
2.4.6.1 On the Part of Employers and Trade Unions of Employers(60)
2.4.6.2 On the Part of Employees and Trade Unions of Employees 61
2.4.7 Future roles of trade union 62
2.5 Obstacles in the future growth of trade unions 62
2.6 Corrective measures to improve the Trade Unions 63

Summary 63

Key Terms (63)

Self assessment questions (63)

Unit III Labor Law 65

3.1 The Concept, Development and Scope of Labor Law 65

3.1.0 Learning Objectives (65)

3.1.1 Introduction (65)

3.1.2 The Concept of Labor Law 67

3.1.3 Development of Labor Law in General 70

3.1.4 Development of Labor Law in Ethiopia 72

3.1.5 Scope of Labor Law 75

3.1.5.1 Who is a Worker? (75)

3.1.5.2 Excluded Employment Relations 78

3.2 Contract of Employment 94
3.2.1 Definition of an employment contract (94)
3.2.2 Obligations of an Employer 109
3.2.3 Obligations of a Worker 111
3.2.4 Termination of Contract of Employment 117
3.2.5 Effects of unlawful Termination 129
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3.3 Psychological contract 138
3.3.1 Definition of Psychological contract (138)
3.3.2 Contents of the Psychological Contract 140
3.4 Hours of Work, Leaves and Occupational Safety and Injury 145
3.4.1 Hours of Work (145)
3.4.2 Leaves (151)
3.4.3 Preventing Occupational Injury 154
3.4.4 Medical Treatment and Compensation 156

Summary 170
Key Terms (170)

Self assessment questions 173

Unit IV Collective Bargaining 175

4.0 Learning Objectives(175)
4.1 Introduction(175)
4.2 Scope of collective bargaining 176

4.2.1 Freedom to collective bargaining 177

4.2.2 The Right to Strike (177)

4.3 Theories of Collective Bargaining 178
4.4 Characteristics of Collective Bargaining 180
4.5 Objectives of Collective Bargaining 181
4.6 Types of Collective Bargaining (181)
4.7 Process of Collective Bargaining 183
4.8 Prerequisites for Collective Bargaining 187
4.9 Collective Bargaining in Developed and Developing Countries:
A Comparison 189

Summary 190

Key terms 191

Self assessment questions (191)

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 Unit V Discipline & Grievance Handling 194
5.0 Learning Objectives(194)
5.1 Introduction 195
5.2 Discipline in the Workplace 197
5.2.1 Objectives of discipline 198
5.2.2 Causes of Indiscipline 199
5.3 Types of Discipline 199
5.3.1 Alternatives to Punishment 200
5.3.2 Essentials of a Good Disciplinary System(200)
5.3.3 Kinds of Punishment 203
5.3.4 Progressive discipline - Procedure for Taking Disciplinary Action 205
5.3.5 The Theoretical Aspects progressive discipline 206
5.3.6 Typical steps in a progressive discipline system 207
5.4 Grievance and grievance handling 214
5.4.1 Organizational Responsibility 215
5.4.2 Features of Grievance (215)
5.4.3 Causes of Grievances (215)
5.4.4 Model of Grievance Procedure 217
5.4.5 Effects of Grievance (217)
5.4.6 Typical Grievance procedure 218
5.4.7 Essential Pre-requisites of a Grievance Handling Procedure
5.4.8 Basic Elements of a Grievance Handling Procedure
5.5 Conciliation and Mediation 223
5.5.1 Meaning of Conciliation and Mediation (223)
5.5.2 Arbitration 224
5.5.2.1 Methods of Arbitration 227
5.5.2.2 Selecting the appropriate method 226

Summary 228

Key Terms (228)

Self assessment questions (228)

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 Unit VI International Industrial Relations 229
6.0 Learning Objectives (229)
6.1 Introduction (229)
6.2 Definition of international law 231
6.3 Birth of the international labor law 232
6.4 Purpose of international labor law
6.5 Global Instruments of international labor law 234
6.5.1 ILO Instruments (236)
6.5.2 United Nations instruments 240
6.6 Regional instruments of international labor law 241
6.7 African instruments 241
6.8 Key Issues in International Industrial Relations 241

Summary 244

Key Terms (244)

Self assessment questions(244)