ASSIGNMENT QUESTION
PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to develop the learner's ability to:
1. evaluate the organisation's Industrial Relations (IR) practices.
2. identify and analyse journal articles or conference papers on issues related to IR.
REQUIREMENT
You are required to answer TWO (2) assignment questions. The assignments should be completed individually.
QUESTION 1
Human Resources practitioners play a vital role today
KUALA LUMPUR: The role of Human Resources (HR) practitioners is more crucial today in any organisation unlike in the past where it is usually tucked away amidst 'administrative' duties.
Court of Appeal judge, Datuk Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid said the role played of a HR practitioner and their proficiency is important, especially when it comes to industrial relations, which will certainly impact the number of cases reaching the Industrial Court
Citing statistics from the Human Resources Ministry, she said in 2016 the number of cases brought to the Industrial Court stood at 1,340, out of which 1,226 related to unfair dismissals. The figure of 1,340 new cases is an average of 112 new cases per month.
"Up to March of 2017, there had been 384 new cases brought to the Industrial Court. This represents an average of 128 new cases for the first 3 months of this year alone.
"Out of the 384 new cases, 336 related to unfair dismissals. In terms of awards, and up to March 2017, the sum of RM1,903,359 was awarded for back wages, RM737,159 for compensation in lieu of reinstatement, and together with other awards, the total was RM5,473,095.00," she said in her address at the opening of the MECA Industrial Relations Convention 2017.
Umi Kalthum said the statistics give an impression that employers underestimate the importance of industrial relations, employment and labour laws. She adds that employers remain mostly in the dark, or at best, in the shade over the right procedure to be taken before an employee can be dismissed from employment.
This is despite the fact that industrial relations, employment and labour laws of Malaysia had been around for years.
Umi Kalthum explained that HR practitioners play a critical role as they are in a position to tackle employee relations issues in the right manner such that litigation can be avoided.
"It is the HR practitioner who can first react to a potential employment conflict. A competent practitioner can avert a conflict altogether.
"Litigation is a painful process. The dismissal of a workman injures the workman and his family. The litigation process, with the prospect of reinstatement or a hefty compensation award, and, in certain circumstances, damage an employer," she said.
Apart from this, HR is the department that is charged with having in place the right people depending on the changing needs of the business, she said.
"It therefore follows that the importance of having a competent HR department cannot be underestimated," she said.
Source : New Straits Times, Sept 13, 2017
Questions
a. Based on the above new paper article, what's your view of the increasing number of unfair dismissal cases reaching the Industrial Court?
b. Discuss some HR best practices that should be implemented by an organisation to better serve its employee for harmonious industrial relations. Support your answer with relevant examples.
QUETION 2 - short report
Write a short report of not more than 2500 words on any ONE (1) of the following Industrial Relations issues / challenges:
- Impact of globalisation to Industrial Relations
- Trade Union movement in Malaysia
- Trade dispute and Industrial Action
- Discipline at the workplace
The report should be based on at least 3 articles from any refereed journals or conference papers andyou are encouraged to critically analyse the issues and show analytical thinking in discussing the issues.
("Refereed" means that the article has been formally reviewed and recommended by a group of peer researchers.)