Labour and Industrial Relations Diploma KNEC Notes

Introduction to the Module Unit

Labour and Industrial Relations is a unit offered to diploma students in business related courses to equip them with the right attitudes, knowledge and skills to be able to apply relevant labour and industrial relations law in in a business context.

General Objectives

By the end of this module unit, the learner should be able to:

• Recognize the importance of labour and industrial relations in an organization
• Apply the relevant labour and industrial laws in an organization’s management
• Manage employees disputes in the workplace
• Implement occupational health and safety requirements in an organisation

Topics/Course Outline Required by KNEC

Topic 1: Introduction to Labour and Industrial Relations

1.1. Meaning of labour and industrial relations

1.2. Historical development of labour law

1.3. History of labour movement in Kenya

1.4. Scope of labour laws

1.5. Contents of the labour relations Bill in Kenya.

Topic 2: Industrial Relations

2.1. Meaning of industrial relations

2.2. Need for good industrial relations in an organisation

2.3. Historical background of industrial relations in Kenya

2.4. Factors influencing industrial relations in Kenya

Topic 3: Parties in Industrial Relations

3.1. Parties in industrial relations

3.2. Role of government in industrial relations

3.3. Role of workers in industrial relations

3.4. Role of employers in industrial relations

Topic 4: Industrial Court

4.1. Historical development of the historical court

4.2. Structure of the industrial court

4.3. Procedure in industrial court

4.4. Powers of the industrial court

4.5. Issues in the labour institutions bill

Topic 5: Employment Contract

5.1. Meaning of Employment Contract

5.2. Parties to the employment contract

5.3. Formation of employment contract

5.4. Procedure of termination of an employment contract

5.5. Contents of employment bill in Kenya

Topic 6: Trade Disputes Law

6.1. Meaning of trade disputes

6.2. Causes of trade disputes

6.3. Procedure of reporting trade disputes

6.4. Legal provisions governing industrial action

6.5. Procedure of settling trade disputes

Topic 7: Employees Associations

7.1. Meaning of employees associations

7.2. Role of employees associations

7.3. Reasons for formation of trade unions

7.4. Features of a trade union

7.5. Types of trade unions in Kenya

7.6. Legal provisions governing trade unions in Kenya

7.7. Management-union relationships

7.8. Remaining non-union

7.9. Potential contribution of a union representative

7.10. Advantages of being represented in the union in a workplace

Topic 8: Collective Bargaining

8.1. Meaning of collective bargaining

8.2. Importance of collective bargaining

8.3. Process of collective bargaining

8.4. Principles of collective bargaining

8.5. Legal provisions for conciliation, arbitration and enquiry

Topic 9: Occupational Health and Safety

9.1. Meaning of occupational health and safety

9.2. Legislations that govern occupational health and safety

9.3. Legal provisions regarding health and safety at the workplace in Kenya

9.4. Role and powers of authorized officers in ensuring health and safety of workers

9.5. Contents of the Occupational Safety and Health Bill in Kenya

9.6. Inclusion of people with disabilities in Kenya

Topic 10: Workmen’s Compensation

10.1. Meaning of terms related to compensation as provided for in the Workman’s Compensation Act

10.2. Provisions of Workman’s Compensation’s Act

10.3. Contents of work injury benefits bill in Kenya

Topic 11: Law Relating to Training of Workers

11.1. Meaning of terms used in training of workers

11.2. Legal provisions relating to training of workers

11.3. Legal provisions governing appointments in National Industrial Training Authority

11.4. Legal provisions governing acquisition and use of funds

11.5. Training records maintained by an employer

11.6. Powers of inspectors

Topic 12: Law Relating to Remuneration of Workers

12.1. Meaning and terms used in remuneration of workers

12.2. Legal provisions governing remuneration of workers

12.3. Legislation governing social security workers

Topic 13: Factories Act

13.1. Meaning of Factories Act

13.2. Provisions of the Factories Act in regard to safety, health and welfare

13.3. Statutory control of employment

13.4. Protection of women, young persons, disabled, and children

13.5. Provision put in place when an employee gets permanently disabled during the performance of his/her duties

Topic 14: Labour Relations and Industrial Relations Act

14.1. Management-union relationships

14.2. Remaining non-union

14.3. Collective bargaining

14.4. The potential contribution of a union representative

14.5. The advantages of a represented workplace and grievances

Topic 15: Public Officers and Ethics Act

15.1. Meaning of terms – Ethics, integrity, and professionalism

15.2. Importance of implementing ethical practice in an organisation

15.3. Ways of enhancing integrity in an organisation

15.4. Causes of unethical practices and behaviours within the public sector

15.5. Adverse effect to the public sectors of unethical practices

15.6. Measures of eradicating unethical practices in the public sector

15.7. Importance of implementing ethical codes of conduct in an organization

15.8. Role of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) in an organisation management

15.9. Components of public officers and ethics Act

Topic 16: Emerging Issues and Trends in Labour and Industrial Law

16.1. Emerging issues and trends in industrial law

16.2. Challenges of emerging issues and trends in industrial law

16.3. Managing challenges of emerging issues and trends in industrial law

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