Labour law and industrial law are closely related, with industrial law often considered a subset of labour law. Labour law is the broader term, encompassing all aspects of employment rights and obligations, while industrial law specifically focuses on the legal framework governing industrial relations, including the relationship between employers, employees, and trade unions.
1. LABOUR LAW:
In the past, when factories and industries started growing, bosses took advantage of workers. They treated workers as replaceable and only cared about making the most money. As time went on, the purpose of the labour law changed. At first, these laws were made to protect the interests of employers. This approach was based on the idea that the government should stay out of people’s business as much as possible. But now, modern labour law focuses on making sure employees are not taken advantage of by their bosses. This shift comes from a new way of thinking that believes in taking care of people, called the welfare state doctrine.
Examples of labour laws are: Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, etc.
Key Areas of Labour Law:
- Employment Contracts: Terms of hiring, notice periods, termination conditions.
- Wages and Compensation: Minimum wages, equal pay, overtime, and bonuses.
- Working Conditions: Hours of work, leave entitlements, and rest periods.
- Health and Safety: Ensuring safe working environments through regulations and standards.
- Social Security and Welfare: Provident fund, pensions, maternity benefits, and insurance.
- Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity: Preventing bias based on gender, caste, religion, disability, etc.
2. INDUSTRIAL LAW:
Industrial relations refers to how workers behave in the organisations where they work. Scholars studying the importance of industrial relations aim to understand differences in work conditions, how much say workers have in decision-making,etc.
Industrial law, often considered a subset of labour law, specifically focuses on the relationships and interactions between employees, employers, and labor unions. It is essential for maintaining industrial peace and ensuring that conflicts within the workplace are resolved amicably.
Key Areas of Industrial Law:
- Trade Unions: Regulation of union formation, recognition, and functioning.
- Collective Bargaining: Negotiations between employers and employee representatives regarding working conditions and employment terms.
- Industrial Disputes: Legal framework for handling strikes, lockouts, retrenchment, layoffs, and grievance redressal.
- Dispute Resolution Bodies: Labour courts, industrial tribunals, and conciliation officers.
- Standing Orders: Rules governing conduct, disciplinary action, and employment conditions in an industrial establishment.
Sakash Group adheres to both the act of law in the right manner and through this hires the right talent at the right job.