Role of government in industrial relations
Role of government in industrial relations

What is the role of government in maintaining good industrial relations? As the custodian of the nation, the government plays an impartial role as it exerts influence and acts as a mediator in industrial relations. Another Role of government in industrial relations is that it plays through labor policy, industrial relations policy, labor law enforcement, administration, mediation processes, and judicial bodies. It seeks to regulate the activities and behavior of both workers’ and employers’ organizations.

Thus, three groups of workers, employers, and governments operate within the prevailing social and economic environment. Within the framework of any prevalent industrial relations system are complex rules and regulations that enforce workplaces and workplace communities.

Different systems may contain different forms of such rules and regulations. There may be laws and judgments of various courts, commissions, or tribunals. It may be an agreement written or sanctioned by custom, custom, practice, or tradition, or it may be the result of government policy or intervention.

What is the role of government in maintaining good industrial relations?

The Government promotes a cooperative approach to workplace relations between the employee and employer, creates policies and laws for a country that help employees. The government is in charge of valuing collective bargaining and sometimes can play a role of a mediator. The rights of employees are supported by the government to have their interests supported through effective union representation.

The government benefits from Industrial Relations, because a good working environment promotes employee and employer satisfaction, and this gives the country high employment rates which reflects well on the government manifesto and directly addresses poverty, crime and development issues..

Government plays the following key roles in industrial relations;

What are the roles of the government in industrial relations?

The government plays an important role in Industrial relations, this includes a guardian of industrial peace. Generating a peaceful environment for employees and as a regulator of industrial actions. The government machinery resolves industrial disputes through industrial courts and importantly acts as Arbitrator” or “Referee” for unfair termination/Dismissal Appeals and Disputes on Non-re-employment.

1. Regulator

First, the government is the decision maker of labor laws and regulations such as determining working hours, guaranteeing minimum wage levels, determining working conditions, occupational safety, social security, and social systems. In addition, the state is primarily involved in the labor market, creating legal frameworks, promoting employment, helping the unemployed, abolishing outdated policies, and intervening in mass layoffs.

Read: Role of the three actors in industrial relations

In addition, the state uses direct and indirect participation, active and passive interventions, and pre-conflict and post-conflict interventions to coordinate and encourage employers and workers to reach an agreement.

2. Protector of Workers’ Rights

Secondly, the state plays a role in protecting workers’ rights. Employees’ legitimate interests are

always protected compared to strong or weak employers. As guardians of industrial relations and social justice, governments are responsible for regulating relations based on respect for fundamental human and workers’ rights, and to achieve industrial balance, the majority of workers must be socially responsible. With the growth of the concept of scientific development, the government strengthens the way workers’ rights are protected.

3. Balance Maker

Thirdly, the state can be viewed as a balance maker. In industrial relations, real conflicts more often than not, arise between employers and employees. Initially, workers were in a weak position, but with the growth of union power, especially after the introduction of collective bargaining and the system of collective bargaining, the position of unions has become even stronger, with employers facing groups rather than individuals.

Thus, the balance of power between employers and employees has changed significantly. If there is a disagreement between the employer and the employee within a certain period of time. One side is much stronger than the other, labor relations and negotiations are difficult, and the outcome of consultations is not good for cooperation. This can have a negative impact on economic development and social stability.

The role of the state here is to take coercive adjustment measures to maintain the balance of power on both sides. Governments often use their power to pressure unions and ensure balance, especially when labor movements threaten economic growth and employer interests.

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