The soul of industrial relations

Workers’ participation in management can be considered as an advanced form of labour-management co-operation. In fact, the first major step in the direction of workers’ participation in management in India was the enactment of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 with the dual purpose of prevention and settlement of industrial disputes. Good participation machinery contributes to good industrial relations and at the same time successful participation itself is dependent on good industrial relations. Workers’ participation can be distinguished also on the basis of its advisory or mandatory nature, and its voluntary or statutory character.