Industrial Law and Relations

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Industrial Law and Relations is designed to acquaint students with the structure, environment and functions of trade unions, employer associations. Throughout the course students will be introduced to historical & theoretical dimension of employee – employer relations and factors surrounding it.

The course deals with law and policy in labor-management and union-member relations, unfair labor practices, and union internal affairs. Emphasis will be given on origin of development of trade union, trade unionism in the subcontinent, theories of union, safety of work premises, process of collective bargaining, industrial dispute, grievance handling, strike and lockout, arbitration and labor laws including factories act, minimum wages act, workmen’s compensation etc. Practical case situations will be examined using game theory.

PREREQUISITE (IF ANY):

MGT 201 (Principles of Management) and BUS 360 (Introduction to Business Law)

COURSE POLICY:

It is the student’s responsibility to gather information about the assignments and covered topics during the lectures missed. Regular class attendance is mandatory. Points will be taken off for missing classes. Without 70% of attendance, sitting for final exam is NOT allowed. According to IUB system students must enter the classroom within the first 20 minutes to get the attendance submitted.
The date and syllabus of quiz, midterm and final exam is already given here, however, announcements will be given ahead of time. There is NO provision for make-up quizzes.
The reading materials for each class will be given prior to that class so that student may have a cursory look into the materials.
Class participation is vital for better understanding of sociological issues. Students are invited to raise questions.
Students should take tutorials with the instructor during the office hours. Prior appointment is required.
Students must maintain the IUB code of conduct and ethical guidelines offered by the School of Business.
Students must refrain from any type of cheating and/or plagiarism in a course. Any student acting otherwise will receive an “F” grade in the course. School of Business, IUB, maintains a zero tolerance policy regarding violation of academic integrity.

Students are not allowed to keep bags, handouts, books, mobile phones, smart watches or any other smart electronic devices with them during any exam. Students are advised to keep everything in the front of the class room before the exam starts. Please note that, just carrying any smart electronic devises (even if the devise is turned off or put it in silent mode) during the exam will be considered as “cheating”. Moreover, during the exam, anything written on hand palms (or anywhere else) and carrying paper materials (whatever is written) will be considered as “cheating”. Any sorts of “cheating” will result in an “F” grade with no exception. During the exam, students are only allowed to carry pen, pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, highlighter and calculator in a clear plastic bag.

ASSESSMENT AND MARKS DISTRIBUTION:

Type of Evaluation	Nos.	Weight
*Class Attendance and Participation*	100%	5
Quiz (Best two will be counted)	5	15
Project and Presentation	01	10
Midterm Exam	01	30
Final Exam	01	40
Total		100%

[Class attendance is mandatory; failure to do so may deduct the final marks]

GRADE CONVERSION SCHEME:

The following chart will be followed for grading. This has customized form the guideline provided by the school of Business.

A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D+	D	F
90-100	85-89	80-84	75-79	70-74	65-69	60-64	55-59	50-54	45-49	0-44

* Numbers are inclusive

REQUIRED TEXT:

The course will be based mostly on the following books [some other books and journals may be referred time to time]:

Michael Salamon, Industrial Relations: Theory and Practice, Fourth edition (Soft copy of class lectures, chapter slides will be provided to the students).

Link to virtual learning system: http://103.254.86.4/sb/ (School of Business – Faculty name- Login as a guest- password is 1234).

MORE READINGS:

Bangladesh Labor Law 2006 (PDF format)
Amendment of the Bangladesh Labor Law 2013 (PDF Format)
Abdullah Al Faruque, Current Status and Evolution of Industrial Relations System in Bangladesh

CLASS AND EXAM SCHEDULE, TOPIC AND READINGS:

Sessions	Topic	Learning Outcomes	Readings
Session -1	Overview of Industrial Relations(IR)	Introduction to Industrial Relations, The nature of employment organizations – Unitary -Pluralist and Marxist perspectives.	Salamon, Chapter 1 Page 3-39 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -2	Approaches of Industrial Relations	The nature of Industrial Relations, Different Perspectives of Employment Relations, Input & Output model, Dunlopian Model AKA System approach, Social Actions, Control of the Labor process, Wider approaches to IR – Labor Markets and Comparative Approach, Evolution of IR.	Salamon, Chapter 1 Page 3-39 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -3	IR in Bangladesh	Historical evolution, Industrial Relations and Employee Relations, Emergence of IR & HR, IR Components, IR Bargaining, Bangladeshi Trade Unions, Union Participation in Bangladesh, Freedom of Association in Bangladesh, Right to Strike in Bangladesh, Freedom of Association in EPZ. Relevant Problem Solving from Text	Chapter 1-AAF Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -4	Major Indicators of IR in Bangladesh	Major economic indicators in Bangladesh: country profile, GDP & GNP, Budget size, contributing sectors in GDP, Employment status-self employed employers, urban, rural, day labor etc, major industry wise workforce, RMG sector, and workforce in RMG, EPZ and workforce in EPZ.	Chapter 1-AAF Project Handout Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -5	Legal Framework for the Industrial Relation System in Bangladesh Quiz 1	History and formation of BLA 2006, Conditions of employment, Importance of the act, Classifications of workers according to BLA 2006, Major industrial relations reforms under the Bangladesh Labor Act, 2006, The EPZ Workers Association and Industrial Relations Act, 2004.	Bangladesh Labor Act 2006 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -6	An overview of labor law 2006 and Amendment 2013	Review of the IR in Bangladesh, Employee Probation Period, Service length calculation, Wage calculation, Retrenchment, Discharge, Dismissal, Grounds of dismissal, Termination, Death benefit, Grievance procedure, Leave and Holiday, Employment of female workers, Employment of Adolescent & Children Relevant Problem Solving from Text	Bangladesh Labor Act 2006 and Amendment 2013 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session-7	Trade Union	Introduction to Trade Union (TU), History of TU, Characteristics of trade unions, Factors affecting TU, Role/functions of trade unions, Legal framework, Establishment and registration formalities, and Trade unions in both private and public sector.	Salamon, Chapter 4 Page 93 – 137 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -8	Trade Union in the context of Bangladesh Quiz 2	According to BLA 2006, legal framework of trade union, Concept of TU, Structure of trade unions, Trade union membership and international affiliation, Trade union in Bangladesh, Trade union in EPZs, Trade union in RMG sector, Problems of trade unions in Bangladesh, Role of employers’ organizations. Case and Video on Trade Union	Salamon, Chapter 4 Page 93 – 137 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -9	Collective Bargaining	Introduction of Collective Bargaining (CB), History of CB, Nature of CB, Legislative framework, Distinct functions of Collective Bargaining, Two types of Collective Bargaining, Employee involvement and participation in Collective bargaining process	Salamon, Chapter 9 Page 323 – 368 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -10	Collective Bargaining system in Bangladesh	Concept of collective bargaining, Rules regarding Collective Bargaining according Labor law 2006/2013, Legal Framework of Collective Bargaining.	Salamon, Chapter 9 Page 323 – 368 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -11	Collective Bargaining practices all over the world	Process of electing Collective Bargaining Agent, Roles of Collective Bargaining Agent, Power of Collective Bargaining Agent, Contemporary Practices of Collective Bargaining in Bangladesh. Case and Video presentation on Collective Bargaining Practices	Salamon, Chapter 9 Page 323 – 368 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -12	Systems Approach Model Quiz 3	Introduction, simplified version of Dunlop’s Approach to Industrial Relation, Elements of System Model of Industrial Relation-Dunlop, The Actors in the system, The Contexts of systems. Relevant Problem Solving from Text	Salamon, Chapter 1 Page 3 – 39 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -13	Systems Approach Model	The Ideology of an Industrial Relations System, The Network or Web of Rules, Shortcomings of Dunlop’s Theory, Criticism of Dunlop’s Model. Relevant videos shown better interpretation of the topics covered	Salamon, Chapter 1 Page 3 – 39 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -14	Review for Midterm	CHAPTERS 1,2,3,4 and 6	Chapter 1,2,3,4 and6
Session -15	Midterm Exam	CHAPTERS 1,2,3,4 and 6	Chapter 1,2,3,4 and 6
Session -16	Wages & Industrial Relations	Introduction, Legal Framework of ‘wage’ and ‘minimum wage’, Payment of Wages Some important aspects of wages, Remedy for non-payment and undue deduction from wages, Determination of Minimum Wages, Composition of Minimum Wages Board, Fixing minimum rates of wages, Determination of minimum wages in public sectors, Role of Collective Bargaining in Wage Determination, Discrimination of wages between formal and informal sector workers.	Chapter 5-AAF Page 36 – 51 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -17	Wages calculation in the context of Bangladesh Labor Act 2006	Fixation of minimum wages for private sector industries, Minimum wages for RMG workers, Minimum wages for unskilled private sector industries, Factors to be considered in wage fixing/ Problems in wage fixing	Chapter 5-AAF Page 36 – 51 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -18	Wages calculation in the context of Bangladesh Labor Act 2006 Quiz 4	Wage Discrimination in Bangladesh in different sectors, Average wages in different sectors, Sector wise wages data in formal private enterprises (2002), Sector wise wages data in informal private sector survey of 2003, Role of trade union and employers’ organizations in wage fixing mechanisms.	Chapter 5-AAF Page 36 – 51 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -19	Industrial Disputes (ID)	History of Industrial Disputes, Concept and Definition of Industrial Disputes, Dispute Settlement Machinery of the State, Bipartite Negotiation, Conciliation/ Tripartite Negotiation, rules regarding dispute settlement according to Bangladesh Labor Law 2013 (amendment), dispute settlement mechanism in Bangladesh. Case solving on Industrial dispute	Chapter 6-AAF Page 52 – 68 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -20	Industrial Disputes in Bangladesh	Arbitration, Right to strike or lock-out The Adjudication System, Adjudication by Labor Appellate Tribunal, High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Role of labor administration in dispute settlement, Preventive measure for avoiding industrial dispute, Dispute settlement in export processing zone, Dispute Settlement Process in Bangladesh 2007. Relevant Problem Solving from Text	Chapter 6 – AAF Page 52 – 68 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -21	Different perspectives of Industrial Disputes (ID)	Bipartite negotiation, Conciliation, Arbitration, right to lock out or strike, Adjustment, role of Labor Appellate Tribunal and High court division. Examples of employee involvements in Trade unions in different organizations Relevant Problem Solving from Text	Chapter 5-AAF Page 52 – 68 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -22	Different perspectives of Industrial Disputes (ID)	Preventing measures for avoiding industrial disputes, Industrial Disputes handled by Labor Courts in 1990-2006, Trend of Industrial Disputes for Disposal (1990-2005). Relevant Problem Solving from Text	Chapter 5-AAF Page 52 – 68 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -23	Employee Involvement in Collective Bargaining	Introduction to Employee Involvement, Approaches to employee involvement, pressures for participation in trade unions, Perception of Management towards employee involvements. Relevant Problem Solving from Text	Salamon, Chapter 10 Page 369 – 410 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -24	Employee Participation in Collective Bargaining	Introduction to employee participation, communication ways, workers directors, Trade union responses, various councils from work and company. Relevant Problem Solving from Text	Salamon, Chapter 10 Page 369 – 410 Handout available on virtual learning system
Session -25	Project Presentation Quiz 5	Bangladesh & ILO Objectives of ILO, membership, Structure of ILO, Roles of ILO, Finance & Budget of ILO, impact of ILO on Bangladesh Industrial Law and relation, Various ILO conventions in Bangladesh, Turkey, UK,USA, Middle East, India , Japan & China.
Session -26	Project Presentation	Bangladesh & ILO Objectives of ILO, membership, Structure of ILO, Roles of ILO, Finance & Budget of ILO, impact of ILO on Bangladesh Industrial Law and relation, Various ILO conventions in Bangladesh, Turkey, UK,USA, Middle East, India , Japan & China.
Session -27	Project Presentation	Bangladesh & ILO Objectives of ILO, membership, Structure of ILO, Roles of ILO, Finance & Budget of ILO, impact of ILO on Bangladesh Industrial Law and relation, Various ILO conventions in Bangladesh, Turkey, UK,USA, Middle East, India , Japan & China.
Session-28	Project Presentation	Bangladesh & ILO Objectives of ILO, membership, Structure of ILO, Roles of ILO, Finance & Budget of ILO, impact of ILO on Bangladesh Industrial Law and relation, Various ILO conventions in Bangladesh, Turkey, UK,USA, Middle East, India , Japan & China.
Session -29	Final Exam Review	Student Participation, Q & A session CHAPTERS 5(AAF), 6(AAF), 10(Salamon)	Chapter 5(AAF), 6(AAF), 10(Salamon)
Session -30	Final Exam	CHAPTERS 5(AAF), 6(AAF), 10(Salamon)	Chapter 5(AAF), 6(AAF), 10(Salamon)