Principles of Management Unethical Labour Practices

Construction and Domestic Security Agencies

It is a very usual practice seen at workplaces that the safety of the workers is not ensured properly. For example in a survey we found that in a building under construction, the workers were provided with just a loose hanging ladder of bamboo to go upstairs and work. If the safety and security of the workers are not ensured, the workers will not be reluctant to give their best for the assigned job. But we see them working forcefully just because they are helpless of their poverty. In another study, we questioned the security guards of an educational institution about their working timings and holidays. We learnt that the working time for the first shift was 9am to 6pm for 365 days and same for the night shift guards, with no holidays even on festivals like Diwali or Eid or any other public holiday and moreover they were not paid any incentives for working on any of these public holidays. This clearly shows the unethical behavior on part of the management of the institute. The only factor that keeps these guards work 24x7 round the year is again their poverty. But this should be given a serious thought by the management because the guards should not be deprived of their basic rights of bonus for working extra. The basic issue in this is that unless the workers feel that the management is interested in them or the management is keen about their safety the workers or the guards cannot work whole heartedly. After all ethics should be maintained at the workplace for everyone from the lowest level to the highest level.

Electronic sweatshops
Most workers in the electronics industry are not given any employment letter or wage slip as they are forced to work as casuals or trainees or even worse- apprentices. Since apprentices are not considered as workers and labour laws are not applicable to them, employers take advantage of such workers. Thus non-permanent workers are required to work for long hours without being paid for overtime. Their social security is completely neglected. They have to work under difficult conditions in the factories, sometimes even risking their health conditions; but are not adequately paid for it. They are also denied weekly holidays. Year after year new and educated trainees are hired in the companies and as part of their training program they are only told how to do the work. Their training also barely lasts from two hours to two days. After this they are treated as any other casual worker, doing the same kind of work. One of the most common human problems involves the supervisor-worker relationship. Sometimes management also adopts the divide-and-rule policy by discriminating between permanent and nonpermanent or male and female workers. It prevents any kind of solidarity emerging among the workers. It is important to realize that the workers should be given their due respect and all cooperation for the work they do.

Conclusion
While electronics industry is supposed to be one of the success stories of Indias liberalization programme, the labour welfare has certainly taken a backseat. The increasing economic integration has brought new pressures upon the domestic industries to face international competition, therefore large MNCs find it convenient to outsource its production requirements upon the developing countries poor, cheap and vast labour force.

It is a fact that many of the basic facilities and rights due to the worker do not reach him /her on account of his/her employment status. Significant proportions of workers, working in the electronic industry (consisting majority of young and skilled workers) are not provided with any clarity regarding their employment status. Thus in the absence of any job security the worker may be dismissed without given a reason, in case he/she revolts against the management.

Child Labour
Hari Om, who hails from Saidabad taluka in Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh state is 17 years of age and is in the occupation of ironing clothes. He had come to the city of dreams - Mumbai when he was 15 years old on the backing of his maternal uncle- who had already set his ironing shop in the city. At the age of 15, Hari Om finished his schooling from the local school before he decided that he wanted to financially support his debt ridden father who was a farmer by occupation. He has never thought of pursuing further studies since he feels it is not going to value add to his current occupation of ironing clothes. What he as a teenage fails to understand is the importance of education not only in the field he is working in but in all aspects of life. This kind of negative thinking needs to be eradicated from a childs mind by his own parents and peers. Unless the youth of India along with their support system of parents and peers understand and value education India will continue to remain an illiterate economy. These kind of unethical practices need to be eradicated from the root of the society for it to progress.