By Fadhy Mtanga
Industrial Relations is a branch of Social Science that studies the relationship that exists at the workplaces. Industrial Relations focus on the relationship between employers and their associations on one hand, and employees with their organizations on the other. Also, it is deals with the relationship between the workplaces and the government as the policy and law maker, hence the regulator of that relationship.
Industrial Relations as the branch of Social Science is a multi-disciplinary field that has fetched doctrines from different branches of Social Science. It has employed doctrines from Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Political Science, Law, Economics, Organizational Behaviour and Management. Therefore, Industrial Relations is well enriched discipline in the field of the relationship at the workplaces.
Being multi-disciplinary field in the Social Science, Industrial Relations is mainly based on maintaining the harmonious relationship at the workplaces so as to make sure the peace and tranquility prevail. Purposely, this ensures the continuation of production of goods and provision of services regardless to the differences between employers and employees that inherently exist.
An expert in Industrial Relations is the person who is well trained in the field with enough skills in different aspects of maintaining the cordial relationship at the workplaces. He or she is well trained in the fields such as Industrial Psychology, Organizational Behaviour, Human Resources Management, Labour Economics, Good Governance and Administration. These doctrines will enable that person to deal accordingly with the diverging interests among the social partners in the labour relations who are the employers and employees with their organizations and the government on the other side.
Industrial Relations as the field trains it experts in conflict management, dispute resolution through facilitation, consultation,