Industrial Relations – Evolution and Regulation in India

Industrial Relations is a complex art to keep two opponents, i.e., Employer and Employees together in harmonious state to facilitate smooth and optimum productivity by securing mutual cooperation, trust and understanding, by safeguarding the interest of both. Industrial relations deal not only with matters concerning demands by workers for, inter alia, higher wages, bonus, leaves, good working conditions, Medicare, social security and employee welfare provisions, grievance-handling mechanism, dispute resolution etc., but also determine the health and well-being of entire industrial community, the families of workers engaged in the industries, the community, the society, and the State at national level. To achieve good industrial relations, some guidelines, yardsticks, rules etc. are required. Workers being weaker partners cannot dictate its say on the employers. Employers being the stronger partner will be in a better position to tilt the policies in their favour. That will not be fair for anyone. Therefore, the role of State comes into picture. State has the required statutory...