Emerging Consensus on Labour Market Institutions and Implications for Developing Countries: From the Debates in India

Abstract

This paper makes a critical intervention to on-going theoretical and policy debates in the economic analysis of labour market institutions (LMIs) in the context of recent debates in India. It focuses on the internal inconsistency of mainstream economic analyses of LMIs, in particular those based on the new institutional economics (NIE) approach, and what appears to be an emerging policy consensus on LMIs within the World Bank and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The paper draws out the possible ideological parallels in these two developments, despite different intellectual origins and intentions of those engaged in these debates. A corresponding modification in policy debates in India is observed in the shifting perspectives from the Second National Commission on Labour (SNCL) to the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS). The apparent emerging consensus in both the theoretical literature and policy debates reveals the tendency for researchers to focus on labour market outcomes and phenomenal forms of LMIs rather than the structures, processes, agencies and relations that underpin them. While this can be seen as an advancement from the traditional distortionist-institutionalist dichotomy, the tendency of this consensus to explain the persistence of seemingly inefficient institutions within the micro-level choice theoretic framework and its appeal to policy agendas on good governance, social capital, trust and civil society, render it vulnerable to appropriation by the mainstream. The paper argues that the emerging consensus on LMIs is an inadequate framework to inform effective policy propositions, and highlights the scope and opportunity for a political economy alternative.     

Mobilizing consent: paternalism and cellular manufacturing

In this paper we explore the dynamics of the introduction of New Systems and Structures of Work Organization (NSSWO) in the context of the forces impacting upon organizational change in the unionized sector of manufacturing industry throughout the Thatcher period. This we do by way of a detailed case study of a major UK auto-components manufacturer. We explore a number of changes in work organization, including the introduction of a cellular-based system of manufacturing, from its initial strategic conception through to its implementation; the delegation of responsibility for quality to shop-floor operators and the use of more flexible working practices. In doing so, we reconsider the context of change, the detailed processes of change and the pattern of accommodation between labour and management. Drawing upon our previous work on the nature of paternalism (Ackers,and Black, 1991), we explore its significance in terms of management’s constant drive for more economic work practices and patterns of organization. Specifically we explore the significance of paternalism as a relevant concept in interpreting the case, and hence, also, as a relevant concept in understanding HRM. The case challenges the prevailing ideology that the ‘successful’

economic organization requires (a) a de-regulated labour market and (b)

a trade union free environment, or, failing this, that management needs to

develop an individualistic approach towards the work-force, moving from the

more pluralist‘industrial relations’approach towards an essentially ‘unitarist framework, as found in certain interpretations of ‘uman resource management’(Guest, 1987)

The paper is thus a contribution to the continuing analysis of those ‘tensions and struggles through which the open ended potential of labour power have been managed, through shifting patterns of coercion, accommodation and compliance into profitable forms of production’(Elger and Smith, 1994: 12; Thompson, 1990). By means of this case we attempt to explore this issue with respect to three interconnected

themes:

The place of paternalism as a relevant concept in the age of HRM.

The extent to which organizations may be better advised to look towards ways

to build upon their existing organization culture, rather than seeking solutions

from overseas models.

Linking with previous work on the ‘Joint Process’in the US (Black and Ackers, 1994), the paper raises issues concerning the ‘strategic issue . . . which managers have to face . . . the balance between joint regulation and joint consultation’(Storey and Sissons, 1993: 221), and hence the role of trades unions in organizational change programmes.     

多重目标下我国国有企业效率分析

我国是社会主义国家,这就决定了我国国有企业不能仅仅追求利润这一简单目标,而更要注重实现其他各项目标,从而更好地服务国家和社会大众.衡量国有企业的效率,不能只根据某些财务指标进行分析,还必须看到国有企业的多重目标.以工业总产值、资产总额等作为评判指标,衡量国有企业的经济实力;以劳动生产率和销售利润率作为评判指标,衡量国有企业的生产赢利能力;以工业增加值增长速度的变异系数和潜在增长速度作为评判指标,衡量国有企业增长的稳定性和发展潜力;以创新产品销售收入占比和研发经费投入作为评判指标,衡量国有企业的自主创新能力;以入选《财富》世界500强和世界品牌500强的数量作为评判指标,衡量国有企业的竞争力;以创造就业机会、慈善捐赠数量等作为评判指标,衡量国有企业的社会责任意识.整体来看,我国国有企业的发展是有效率的,而且其效率不逊色于私营企业和外资企业.鉴于国有企业发展的高效率和实现目标的多重性,今后要继续着力培育能够主导经济发展、贯彻宏观调控、保障经济安全、承担社会责任、参与高端竞争、促进技术进步的国有企业.     

探索企业“党工共建”有效途径

“党工共建”对于构建和谐企业,促进安全生产和经济效益双赢有着重要的作用。文章从党建带工建,共建促双赢,“党建带工建”是搞好工会组织建设的关键,“工建促党建”是企业党组织和工会建设需要等方面,对广西桂冠大化水力发电总厂“党工共建”工作进行阐述,并从强化领导,从责任上落实“党工共建”;加深认识,在思想和行动上实现“党工共建”;加强制度建设,从制度规范上保证“党工共建”;理顺劳动关系,从劳动关系上构造工建服务党建;强化人文环境,彰显“党工共建”互动发展等5个途径进行探索。     

关于发挥工会优势创建学习型企业的思考

工会是党联系职工群众的桥梁和纽带,它不仅具有促进职工提高道德素质和科学文化素质的职能,而且起到维护职工合法权益的作用。为了更好地发挥工会的自身优势,必须加强工会的内部构筑,向学习型企业的方向迈进,最终“成为广受社会信赖和尊敬的行业”。文章从思想、执行、企业3个方面入手,结合“创先争优”和企业文化的联系性,由局部到整体,对发挥工会优势,创建学习型企业进行了思考。     

论中国经济可持续发展的原始动力——基于构建和谐稳定劳动关系的视角

在社会主义市场经济条件下,劳资两大基本生产要素之间和谐稳定的关系不仅有助于我国社会结构的稳定,也是经济可持续发展的原始动力。当前,劳动关系失衡,劳动者的合法权益得不到有效保障,这些制约着经济的可持续发展和经济增长方式的转变。在中国国情制度框架内的工会合作博弈行为,是维护劳动者权益的有效手段,是实现劳动关系平衡的理想路径。工会的合作博弈有助于劳动和资本有效良性的结合,从而推动经济的可持续发展和经济增长方式的转变。     

高职院校工会如何维护教职工合法权益

维护教职工权益是高职院校工会的基本职责,本文就新形势下维护教职工权益的基本任务,努力完善维护教职工权益的制度与机制,提高工会人员维权的能力和水平等作了较为全面的阐述。     

武汉城市圈高职院校图书馆联盟构建初探

通过对武汉城市圈内高职院校图书馆发展态势的分析,提出构建武汉城市圈高职院校图书馆联盟的初步设想,并从图书馆联盟的性质和组织形式、资金来源、共享内容等方面提出了自己的建议。     

高校工会组织参与教育职能建设探析

校工会组织参与教育职能建设是党和国家赋予高校工会组织的一项基本职能,有利于社会文明建设、有利于构建和谐校园、有利于工会组织自身发展。同时,高校工会组织参与教育职能建设具有自身的优势。此外,还应加强高校工会组织的教育方式、教育内容、及明确高校工会组织的教育目标等。