INTRODUCTION

As one of the factors of production, labour is an issue of controversy. For the entrepreneur there are expectations they have from their employees sometimes which may be way beyond the rules by which employees are allowed to operate. For the employees equally, their welfare is paramount which they expect to be addressed by their employers. The result is labour disputes arising in the work place which, without proper regulations on how to address them, would sometimes cause unimaginable industrial unrest. This module therefore introduces learners to the law that regulates employer employee relations. It begins with an introduction to what labour law is and its importance. The module examines the law regarding the provisions for conditions of employment that the employer and employee enter into and what the standard terms as provided by law are. It further examines some statutory obligations that guide the employer in terms to standards of hygiene and safety expected in the work place and finally examines the international standards regulating industrial/labour relations and addresses the aspect of trade unionism. 

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this module are:

• To give an historical background to the concept of labour and labour law
• To examine the law regarding conditions of contract under which the employer employee relationship is based
• To examine the legal provisions regarding provision of safety standards at the work place
• To examine the legal provisions regarding statutory obligations imposed on the employer and employee
• To examine and explain the provisions set under international law on the standard practices regulating the relationships of parties in the labour market.
• To examine what trade unionism is and its relevance in labour matters

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module you should be able to:

• Know and explain the development of the concept of labour and labour law
• Know and explain the standard provisions of employment contract that regulate employer employee relations
• Identify and explain the existing legal provisions regarding safety standards at the work place
• Know and explain the statutory obligations employers and employees are required to meet towards each other
• Know and explain the standard international provisions guiding the relationship of parties in the labour market.
• Have an appreciation of the concept of trade unionism and its relevance to labour relations.    

UNIT 1 – LABOUR LAW: AN INTRODUCTION

UNIT 2 – THE LEGISLATION ON LAW RELATIONS

UNIT 3 – CONTRACT OF SERVICE/EMPLOYMENT

UNIT 4 – STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS ON SAFETY RULES

UNIT 5 – EMPLOYERS STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS TO STATUTORY BODIES

UNIT 6 – LABOUR ASSOCIATIONS (TRADE UNIONS)

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Chungu Chanda and Beele Ernest Muketoi. (2018). Labour Law in Zambia: An Introduction. Juta Publications

Fenwick Colin, Howe John, Marshall Shelley and Landau Ingrid. (2007). Labour and Labour Related Laws in Micro and Small Enterprises: Innovative Regulatory Approaches. Geneva: International Labour Office

Musonda Akwale. (2017). the Current Labour and Employment Law in Zambia: Legislation, Cases and Materials. Lusaka: ZEPH

Mwenda Winnie Sithole. (2011). Employment Law in Zambia: Cases and Materials. Lusaka: UNZA Press