technology and industrial relations in present world

7/30/2019 Technology and Industrial Relations in present world

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I ndustr ial Relations

andTechnological Change


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Industrial Relations The relation between an employee and an

employer in the course of running of an industryand may project itself to spheres which maytransgress to the areas of quality control,

marketing, price fixation and disposition ofprofits among others.

Industrial Relations or Labour relations, is an

expression used not only for relationshipsbetween employers and Trade Unions, but alsofor those involving Government with the aim ofdefining policies, facing labour problems.


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Concept of Technological Change Technology is an instrument of development.

Affects various aspects of economic and social life.

Technological changes is a continuous process which

covers a series of

developments,mechanization,increase in mass oproduction.

The relation b/w technological changes and Industrial

Relation is very important subject

Those interested in industrial relation have beenconcerned with the effects of the technology on

labour management issues such as manpower,job

security,redundancy,training.


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Technology implies not only better and moresophisticated machines,but also related o improvement

in working conditions,managerial knowledge and skills Hader Ferman and Hudson have identified certain

changes which affect jobs and influence skills inAmerican industrial system.

These Technological Changes are-1) Scientific Management Or time and Motion

studies

2) shift in location of plants

3) shift in product demand4) change in machinery

5) Automation


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Rationalisation & Automation

Rationalisation implies a basic change in the

structure and control of industrial activities. Its

techniques can be applied to methods, materialand men.

In Automation, technology itself controls the

operations. The machine provides data from its

operations and feeds it back to its own controls

which governs the production process.


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Implementation of Rationalisation and

Automation in India Influenced by American Model

To Increase productive efficiency

Vast surplus of Labour after II World War

Safeguards by Labour Ministry and Planning Commission--Fixing the work load

-Stopping fresh Recruitment

-Offering higher wages

-Voluntary Retirement-Sharing of gains

Second Five year plan- Rationalization was to beattempted only when it did not lead to unemployment.


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Progress of Rationalisation and

Automation in India

3 industries- Cotton-textile, Jute and Coal

Cotton-textile- Workers accepted it.- Introduced in the form of efficiency

measures.-Additional strain & Inadequate increase in

earnings.

Jute- International Competition

- Progress slow, Dependence on foreign country for RawMaterial

Coal- Rationalization in larger mines, old methods in smallmines


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Automation at LIC (1963)

Central trade unionorganization opposedit.

Loss of employmentand addition to cost.

Management argued-acceleratedindustrialization,increased productivity,raised standard ofliving.

In order to bringreconciliation- meetingof Standing Labour

Committee to considerthe impact ofautomation and remedialmeasures.

There was

underutilization ofcomputers because theywere introduced withoutadequate preparation,planning and thought.


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Cont.

The question of installation of computers inthese established industries were to be

governed by two criteria, namely:

1)The effect on employment in relation to thewhole economy

2)The effect on employment in the relevant

departments of these establishments.


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Impact of Technological Change

NEGATIVE IMPACT Impact on employment

Redundancy

Occupational Adjustment

Allocation of gains

Transfer & Retraining Problems

Resistance to change- Strikes,Absenteeism, resignations etc.

Job Satisfaction

Worker & Union Reations

Changes in job content therebycreating new jobs to replace oldones

Fitting new jobs into the existingincentive scheme

POSITIVE IMPACT Labour saving

Improves level of earnings

Higher productivity

Reduction in cost andincrease in benefits

Product standardization


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Appropriate Technology: Its

relevance to the Indian Context The kind of technology which would be foundappropriate to the conditions found in the countrywhere it was being introduced.

Less developed countries do not possess requisitelabour skills to replace the machine skills,technical know how and infrastructure.

Example- The solar pump developed by a Frenchfirm which is being used in Mexico.


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CONCLUSION

Thus, one must not only examine very

carefully the cost benefit analysis from the

economic point of view but also take intoaccount the repercussions on industrial

relations.


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technology and industrial relations in present world

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