Module                       : HRM 204:  Industrial Relations

Programme                : BBA

Credit Value              : 12

Prerequisite                : None

General Objectives:

·         Provide students with an understanding of the main themes of labour relations systems in a number of market economies in the South-East Asian region with a special focus; bring into light the historical, social, and economic aspects of each country as well as the roles of the principle parties and the bargaining processes.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the module, student is expected to:

·         Understand and comprehend the concepts and application of industrial relations systems in organisations and market economies in South-East Asian region;

·         Critically analyse and discuss the concepts of grievance handling and arbitration process;

·         Analyse and discuss the concept of convergence versus divergence with regard to the globalisation of industrial relations and human resource management systems and frameworks;

·         Describe the role of trade unions in public and private sector restructuring;

·         Develop a sound understanding of the significant themes impacting upon the theory and practice of industrial relations; and

·         Critically analyse the bargaining process and develop the necessary skills.

CONTENT

Unit -I: Introduction                                                                                                          (7 Hours)

Concepts of Industrial Relations; Globalisation and its impact on IR; Current IR Scenario in Bhutan; Future of IR in Bhutan

Unit -II: Global IR                                                                                                             (8 Hours)

Labour Rights; International Regulation of Employment; Role of ILO and WTO; Change and Transformation in Asian IR

Unit- III: Collective Bargaining                                                                                      (10 Hours)

Concepts of collective bargaining; Key negotiating concepts: Expectations, Bargaining power and leverage; Legal context of collective bargaining; Collective bargaining and globalisation and trade liberalisation; Outcomes of collective bargaining

Unit -IV: IR Issues                                                                                                             (8 Hours)

Management Perception of Unions; Grievance handling and arbitration process; Grievance arbitration simulation; Types of disputes; Prevention and settlement of labour disputes

Unit -V: IR in Economic Giants in South-East Asian Region                                     (10 Hours)

India, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore

Unit -VI: Role of IR in Public and Private Sectors and IR Challenges                       (7 Hours)

Role of IR in Public and Private Sector Restructuring; Approaches of Government to Achieve Wage Restraint and Restructuring; Future IR Trends; Challenges posed by IR in the field of HRM

Teaching Strategies

·Seminar

·Presentation

·Case study

·Assignment

·Class Discussion

Assessment

• Participation                                        10 %
• Case study                                          20 %
• Presentation                                        10 %
• Research report                                   30 %
• End-Semester exam                            30 %

                                                            Total  100%

Essential Texts

1. Herman, E.E. 1997. Collective Bargaining and Labour Relations. 4^th ed. Prentice Hall.
2. Loughran, C.S. 2003. Negotiating a Labour Contract: A management Handbook. 3^rd ed. BNA Books.

References

1. Bamber, G., Lansbury, R.D. & Wailes, N., 2004,  International and Comparative Employment Relations. Globalisation and the Developed Market Economies. 4^th Ed. Sydney, Allen & Unwin.
2. Bamber,G.J., Park, F., Lee, C., Ross, P.K. and Broadbent,K., 2000, Employment Relations In The Asia – Pacific Changing Approaches, Allen & Unwin, NSW, Australia.
3. Chaykowski, R.P. The Structure and Process of Collective Bargaining. Ponak and Taras.
4. Chamberlain, N. And Kuhn. 1986. Collective Bargaining. 3^rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.