Employment Law for Business Today and Tomorrow Research Paper

Employment Law for Business Today and Tomorrow - Research Paper Example The employment laws came into being as a result of the untiring struggle of laborers for the better working conditions, wages and their right to raise through trade unions and to present a charter of demands to the management when due. In order to strike a balance between the employers and the employees, the positive role of the trade union cannot be ignored. It is a matter of fact that without the cordial relationship between the employees and the employers, running the affairs of an organization smoothly is a big question mark (Deakin & Morris, 2005). The infrastructure of employment law around the globe is more or less the same in terms of rights and obligations of the employees and the employers. The rights and obligations of the employees and the employers are implemented through a contract of employment (Deakin & Morris, 2005). ...In many countries of the world, minimum wages of the employees are determined by their respective governments. We may cite here the example of Sweden where minimum wages are negotiated by the Collective Bargaining Agent on behalf of the employees with the management, keeping in mind the profitability of the organization/other factors. The CBA strives hard for a better deal for the benefits of workers (Deakin & Morris, 2005). Here we can mention the minimum wage laws that were introduced in different countries seriatim: USA (1938); Brazil (1940);Â  India (1948); France (1950) and last but not the least, UK (1998). Today 18 out of 25 members are part of the European Union where minimum wages for the workers are in vogue (Deakin & Morris, 2005). While looking back at the era of the Industrial Revolution, we observe that at that time workers were forced to work approximately up to 14 hours or even longer. Along with adult employment, children employment was also common with drastic features. In England, children had to work 8 hours a day in the textile factories. The Factory Act of 1802 and subsequent acts addressed the issues rela ted to children employment and the minimum working hours of an employee. According to the said act, the racial and sexual discrimination is unacceptable and considered illegal (Selwyn, 2008). The subsequent employment act, which came to surface in 1938, set a maximum of 44 hours and later on 40 hours a week. Even the immigrant workers are benefited from the mentioned act. There are areas where this act is not implemented. For instance, in the agricultural field, working hours can be spanned to 72 hours a week in the harvesting season.