Introduction:
Industrial disputes in economics refers to conflicts or disagreements between employers and employees within an industry. These disputes revolve around terms of employment, working conditions, wages, job security, and other labor-related issues. Industrial disputes can take many forms, from strikes and lockouts to work-to-rule and go-slows. Understanding these disputes is essential in economics because they impact productivity, economic growth, income distribution, and labor market stability. The causes of industrial disputes are:
If these are conflicts or disputes between the employers and the workers in industries, the conflict are known as industrial dispute. These disputed lead to all types of consequence as strikes and go slow tactics by the workers, lockouts by the employers Etc.
Causes of industrial disputes are:
- Demand for higher wages and allowances: This has been a major cause of industrial dispute especially because of the continuous rising prices and cost of living during the last five decades with the rising prices and unaccompanied by corresponding rise in wages the purchasing power of wages falls. Lowering the standard of living of workers while the employee usually resist rising in wages labor must fight to maintain their real wages.
- Demand for bonus: This is another major cause of industrial disputes labor naturally wants to have a share in the profit to which they feel they have contributed there is sometimes a disputed regarding the quantum of bonus which the workers regarded a deferred wages.
- Victimizations: The employers sometimes adopt vindictive attitude and punished denote or dismiss some leaders of the workers this is rescued and leads to strike.
- Long working days: Demand for a addiction in working days another possible cause of dispute the worker demand the short timing of working hours and the same is restricted by the employee and thus arises a dispute.
- Question of leave: Question of leave and holiday sometime creates trouble and leads to strike.
- Participation in management: Demand for participation in management is also sometimes the cause of industrial disputes.
- Demand for better working condition: Facilities such as more safety measure in the factory canteen facilities holidays and leave Etc. another cause of industrial disputes. Concerns over workplace safety, hours of work, and other conditions often lead to conflicts. Workers may demand improved safety standards, better equipment, or reduced hours, while employers may weigh these against operational costs.
- Refusal to recognize a union: Sometimes a strike may ensure because the management refuses to give recognition or in giving reorganization to the trade union formed by workers.
- Opposition to rationalization: The workers resist rationalization of the union being attempted by the management.
- sympathetic support: Workers in an industrial unit may go on strike because of any reasons of their own but in sympathy with the workers in other establishment
- Political reasons: Strikes of political nature are also not unknown.
Machinery for settlement of disputes:
The following machinery exist in India for the settlement of industrial disputes under the industrial dispute act 1947 as amended in 1956, 1965, 1982 and 1984 etc.
- Work committees: In every factory join committee of workers and employers both equally represented in set up to promote good relation between labor and management and to settle dispute if one arises. the committee is concern with matter which direct effect the condition under which workers function such as safety and accident prevention, provision PF, simple amenities, education and recreation activities and administration of welfare and fine funds.
- Conciliation officer: It is the function of these officers to bring the parties together and try to leave the disputes in the bud this conciliation officer are appointed by the government for particular region or particular industry. They have to make report about the government about the disputes and result.
- Board of conciliation: The board has two or four members’ equal representation of the worker and employees and has an independent chairman. Any dispute maybe referred to this board when they goes into the merit of the case and tries to settle it then submit its reports to the government.
- Quote of enquiry: In the event of the failure of conciliation efforts the government appoints the court of enquiry to go into the whole case consisting of one or two independent persons.
- Labor courts: These courts have been set up by State government to hear and decide labor disputes relating to dismissal or suspension of workers or the legality or otherwise of a strike or lockout.
- Industrial tribunals: This tribunals are of two levels at the state level, the tribunal is provided by the High court judge and is appointed by the state concerned to adjudicate a dispute relating to wages, bonus, profit sharing etc. at the all India level the national tribunal appointed by the central government for the adjudicate dispute of national importance or those which effect more than one state. The awards of the tribunals are binding on the parties concerned.
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