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ABOUT THE PROGRAMM

The initial idea for such a course came from the ILO. It founded the Global Labour University (GLU) which collaborates with universities in different countries to run courses at the post-graduate levels which not only aims at equipping people engaged in mass based organizations such as trade unions ,cooperatives and other membership based organizations but also young dynamic minds interested in interrogating, altering the rhetoric and sloganeering process towards theoretical, conceptual and empirical level to work for the workers.

The GLU has initiated a course with the University of Kassel and Berlin School of Economics in Germany; University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; and the University of Campinas, Brazil. The M.A in Globalisation and Labour offered by the TISS is a part of this international collaborative effort.

The need for such a course was felt in view of the onslaught of globalisation and liberalisation has been causing major changes in the lives of the people in developing countries in general and the working class in particular. In a short span of just two decades, the world witnessed an intensification of the globalisation process and liberal policies. Moves to counter these forces are present but at times weak and mostly divided. The ILO has stated specifically that there should be measures that make globalisation more inclusive of the marginalised. There is a need to introduce this debate at a level that is higher than mere rhetoric and sloganeering. It is necessary to equip people engaged in mass based organisations with adequate knowledge at the theoretical, conceptual and empirical levels so that they can interrogate these processes and take stands that are realistic.

The pedagogy for the course will be through class room teaching, tutorials, student seminars, project work and field visits. The role of visiting faculty, mainly from trade unions and labour research organisations from different countries, will be a vital input in the pedagogy. Class room teaching will comprise 50% of the credit hours. Students will be encouraged to make presentations on the different topics covered, based on field visits and their own experiences. The class room teaching of the course will be completed in the first year and a total of 12 courses, comprising 44 credits, will be taught in this year.

In the second year, all students will undergo an internship of six months with a trade union or a membership-based organisation. They will report back periodically to the faculty. This will constitute 16 credits. Each student will have to write a dissertation under the supervision of a faculty member. The student can do so while in the field. This part comprises 16 credits. Grading will be based on written examinations and course work.

Course Outline

Distribution of Credit Hours (one credit: 15 hours)

Semester-Wise Listing of Courses

COURSE DETAILS

GL 1 Foundation Course
Rational of the Paper- This paper attempts to show how some of the basic disciplines in social sciences are related to the subject of Globalisation and Labour. This paper is expected to enhance the learning and analytical skills of the students through and Interdisciplinary approach.
Objectives of the Paper-

• To enable students to link the basic disciplines of social sciences to the course.
• To enhance the understanding of the students towards Interdisciplinary approach in analysing problems.
• To enable them to understand changes in society due to industrialisation and globalisation
• To understand the impact of economic systems on globalisation and labour
• To discuss the impact of globalisation on governance and democratic structures.

Contents of the Paper-

• Theoretical framework of globalisation.
• Impact of globalisation on developing and developed countries.
• Industrialisation and social change.
• Rationalisation as basis of social control
• Impact of Industry on social institutions, family, marriage, caste, and community
• Role of money in transforming social relations.
• Work and alienation.
• Changes in governance under democracy.
• Impact of globalisation on national and local governance.
• Democracy, participation and bureaucracy.

GL 2 Labour Markets in Developing Countries
Rational Of the Paper- Since the past three decades or so the developing countries, especially those having centralised planning as a goal, have seen the rapid growth of the market in their economies. With the decline of the public sector and loosening of state controls over employment in most of these countries we find that the market plays an increasingly important role in determining not just employment but also the type of unemployment, the people who are employed etc. Hence it is necessary to understand these intricacies of the labour market. This would include the diversities in the labour markets in the formal as well as the informal sectors. The role of social institutions- caste, family, kinship etc. plays in the labour market. Most important of all these is the role of gender. This paper attempts tries to cover these aspects and tries to achieve a balance between theory and empiricism.
Objectives of the Paper-

• To make the students understand the meaning the work and the labour process.
• To determine the factors affecting supply of labour and demand for labour.
• To understand the functioning of the labour market and the influence of institutional factors.
• To understand the complexities of labour markets in India

Contents of the Paper-

• Concept and characteristics – labour market vs. product market – formal and informal economies.
• Derived demand – Marginal productivity –elasticity of labour demand - size and nature of investment – Role of technology.
• Supply of labour – micro and macro factors – family, population (gender, size and composition), migration, State policies.
• Rigidities and flexibilities – segmented labour market.
• Employment – unemployment and its types- self employment - employment policies and schemes – concept of human capital – training and skill development.
• Employer-employee relations – problems and their resolution. Collective bargaining.
• Labour market as a social institution – insider-outsider theory.
• Recent developments and challenges –outsourcing and relocation - globalisation, economic reforms, inclusive development, social security - labour as society.

GL 3 International Labour Standards, Decent Work and Social Dialogue
Rational Of the Paper - Within the broad framework of the M.A. in Globalization and Labour this particular course is centered on the training needs of the diversified organizations with regard to international labour standards and the respect of workers’ rights, decent work and social dialogue. The overall objective of the course is to strengthen the capacity of participants and their organizations to promote the knowledge and the application of International labour standards, decent work, and social dialogue as well as to support a specialized structure entrusted with the addressing social, economic and legal questions at the national and international level.
Objectives of the Paper- the Broad objectives of this paper are-

• To help the participants to examine ILO’s approach to the three concepts and to critically look into its impact on developing countries.
• To help participants to be able to introduce the best practices for the ratification/application of international labour standards at various levels of operations.
• To familiarize them with the process of elaboration, the purpose and the contents of standard and to provide a detailed knowledge of the contents of major international labour standards, decent work and social dialogue.
• To guide the participants to use the information and to be able to produce/adapt training materials, seminars on International labour standards, decent work and social dialogue and individual plans of action for the implementation of the project at national/local level.

Contents of the Paper-
 1. INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS

• International Labour Organization and Standard setting, the purpose and contents of standards in a trade union perspective
• How the standards are used; the benefits of International Labour Standards and the need for social justice.
• Subjects and contents of standards
• Recommendations and conventions- ILS’s response to a growing number of needs and challenges faced by workers and employers in the global economy; International Best practices for the ratification/application of the ILSs
• Application of standards- general features and systems, supervision and technical assistance through training and applying conventions when countries have not ratified them.
• Trade policy and development strategies as they relate to workers interest; labour standards in Indian Trade law; protection for women; child and migrant workers.

 2. DECENT WORK:

• Investment, employment, and decent work- socially responsible investment and ILO.
• Devising social and economic systems which ensure the basic security and employment while remaining capable of adaptation to rapidly changing circumstances in a highly competitive global market
• Protection against vulnerability and contingency in work
• Constitutional provisions and policies and its implications on decent work
• Trade theory, developmental theory, human rights, international, humanitarian, and workers right and other fields; Corporate codes of conduct

3. SOCIAL DIALOGUE

• Social Dialogue- concepts, subject matters, indicators and forms
• Participation and Tripartism in ILO’s Mandate, ILO’s mandate, ILO’s standards concerning social dialogue
• International best practices in social dialogue and tripartism
• Social Dialogue, Labour law and Labour Administration
• Social dialogue and gender equalities

4. WORKERS RIGHTS AND THE STATE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AS REALIZIED BY THE DOMESTIC LABOUR LAWS

• Employers, employee’s rights, penalties and legal and illegal economic pressure from employer and employee sides and from the context of employee rights – wrong dismissal, illegal termination and retrenchment, lay off, retrenchment and closure compensation.
• Domestic employment and employment relation laws [Industrial Disputes Act,1947, Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970, Industrial Employment (Standing Order) Act]

GL 5 Country Studies on Globalisation and Labour

Rationale of the Paper-The course will enable the students to understand the theoretical perspectives of globalization and it will examine the impact of globalization on selected countries in Asia and Latin America. In this way the student will be able to relate theory of globalization with the practices in different countries. The focus will be on the developing countries, especially in Asia. The diverse means of adapting or contesting the consequences will help the student understand the diversity of the problems.

Objectives of the Paper-

• To appraise students of the theoretical aspects of globalization.
• To appraise the different policies adopted by developing countries towards globalization.
• To examine, through country specific case studies, the impact of globalization on developing countries.
• To examine challenges and global movements to contest globalization.

Contents of the Paper-

• History of globalization.
• Theoritical discussion on globalization.
• Globalization and its discontents.
• Case studies of South Asian countries.
• Asian Tigers: Monetary crises and later developments.
• Latin America: Crises in Mexico and Argentina.
• Latin America: Political change in Brazil and Paraguay.
• Case study of Cuba.
• Another World is possible: Role of World Social Forum and international movements.

GL 7 Industrial Relations and Trade Unions  -  Strategies in a Global Economy

Rationale of the Paper- In a globalized socio-economic environment, understanding of diversities in Industrial relations and its reflection on trade union strategies are becoming very important.

Trade Unions are expected to build-on suitable strategies in order to remain relevant and effective too. TUs need to explore alternative measures to protect and enhance rights, rank and file.

Objectives of the Paper-

• To enable the students to grasp the comparative approach with particular reference to industrial relations.
• To make the students understand the significance of origins and growth of labour movement in different countries and to draw lessons to understand the labour movement in India.
• To appraise the students towards the problems of work place relations in different countries and their importance for industrial relations.
• To develop a shared understanding among the students regarding ideology of unionism and its development as a social institution worldwide.
• To understand social and contemporary significance of trade unions.
• To understand approaches of trade unions towards globalization, technology, market and budgetary constraints.
• To understand the new role of trade unions in the emerging socio-economic and political environment.

Contents of the Paper-

• Conceptual and theoretical framework of industrial relations.
• Comparative methodology including comparative labour movement.
• System of Industrial relations in U.K.,USA, Germany, Japan, China and South Africa.
• System of Industrial relations in India.
• Workplace behaviour and consequences of globalization and change.
• Theoritical framework of trade unionism.
• Alternative theories of labour movement.
• Contemporary and comparative trade unionism.
• Trade unionism in India-functions and structure.
• Trade unions and labour policies-ILO.
• International unionism.
• Approaches of trade unions to globalization.
• Trade unions and its interface with technology, market and distribution of power.
• Development of trade unions in non-conventional sectors like IT, BPO, Call centres etc.

GL8 Globalisation and Informal employment

Rationale of the Paper- One of the major impact of globalization has been the rapid growth of informal employment in all economies. While even developed countries have witnessed the growth of this sector, the developing countries have been most affected by this phenomenon. This course will trace the growth of the informal and its intensification in recent times. It will help the students understand the effects and consequences of informalisataion on the country’s economy.

Objectives of the Paper-

• To examine the dimension of the informal sector in different countries.
• To acquaint students with the problems of informal employment and the informal sector.
• To understand the relations between the formal and the informal sectors.
• To make students aware of the positive role of the informal sector to a country’s economy.

Contents of the Paper-

• Theoritical approach to the informal economy.
• Growth of informal employment in developing and developed countries(case studies of selected countries).
• Informal employment in the formal sector.
• Liberalisation, globalization and women workers.
• Study of garment industry in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand.
• Textile in India and Pakistan.
• Home-based work in Asian countries.
• Self-employment and micro-enterprises: Street vendors, waste pickers, micro enterprises.
• Outsourcing of manufacturing and services to Asian countries.
• Decent work and informal employment.
• Free trade zones, Special economic zones etc. as areas for increasing informal employment.

GL9 Organising informal labour

Rationale of the Paper- This course is complimentary to the course on Globalisation and informal employment in the sense that it examines the ways and means of organizing informal sector workers to engage in collective action for defending their rights. This course is also complimentary to the course 7 industrial relations and trade unions in a globalizing world as it explores unionization of the informal sector workers while course 7 has concentrated mainly on the formal sector. This course is not merely an addition to the earlier stated courses but it stands on its own as it deals with an extremely important aspect of globalization, namely, how social movements can shape or change the course of globalization.

Objectives of the Paper-

• To help students understand the ways and means of organizing the informal sector workers.
• To explain the differences in approaches and practices of organizing these workers as contrasted with the practices in the formal sector.
• To enable the student to examine the impact of global movements on regulating trade, wages and social security on the informal sector workers.

Contents of the Paper-

• Case studies on efforts to organize informal sector workers in Asian countries.
• National and international associations of informal sector workers- street vendors, home based workers and waste pickers.
• Empowering women through micro-credit and the limitations.
• Role of co-operatives and membership based organizations in organizing informal workers.
• Organising migrant and tribal labour.
• Role of international labour movement and civil society organizations.

GL 10 Social Security and the State

Rational of the Paper – One of the prime attractions of getting a job in the formal sector is that of the social security, retirement and health benefits that it provides. However with liberalisation and globalisation we find that the social security facilities are shrinking. The state which was once in the forefront for social security is rapidly withdrawing. These facilities are being gradually handed over to the private enterprises. At the same time the ever expanding informal sector has little or no facilities for its workers.
This paper will attempt to examine the social security provided to formal sector employees. It will examine the changes in social security measures and their consequences. It will also examine the measures for social security for the informal sector.
Objectives of the Paper– To evaluate the existing social security measures in different countries(especially in India)

• To examine consequences of changes in social security measures in these countries.
• To study the different measures for social security for informal sector workers
• To make assessment of the new schemes for formal and informal sectors.

Content of the Paper -

• Concept of Wellness and security: human development perspective
• Statutory social security measures for workers: roles of employers and the state.
• Social protection and Health Provisions for Workers
• Post retirement Provisions
• Schemes for Informal Sector Workers
• Schemes for Self Employed
• Measures for raising resources for funding social security for formal sector and informal sector workers. Role of the state and private sources.
• Making the state responsible: Social Security as a Human Right.

GL 11 Research Methodology

Rational of the Paper- The course would equip students with basic research skills necessary for analysing books and documents and conducting field research in their related areas of work. It will also attempt to enhance their communication skills.
Objectives of the Paper– The Course seeks to introduce students to research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative, and its role in the creation of knowledge about society. This attempt is to expose students to the processes by which information on society are collected, analysed, and presented as ‘scientific facts’. Thereby the students would also learn about the inbuilt value premises as well as the personal and methodological prejudices in social research.

Content of the Paper- Qualitative Research

1. Introduction to Qualitative Research

• Objectivity and Subjectivity in Social Research
• Theory and Methods
• Micro and Macro Research

2. Doing Research: Technique, Method and Practice

• Research Techniques – Oral History, Life History, Participant and Non- Participant, Observation and Focussed Group Discussion.
• Presentation and Interpretation of Research – Content Analysis

Quantitative Research
Research Methodology: Statistics
The purpose of this section is not to make students solve problems using statistical methods. Instead the stress will be on the meanings and use of statistical methods

• Meaning, scope, relevance and limitations of statistical tools; measures of Central Tendency, Dispersion.
• Probability and probability Distribution; Sampling
• Survey, questionnaire and Interview Schedule
• Pearson’s Correlation, Partial Correlation, Spearman’s rank correlation; Regression

Writing research Proposals and Reports

• Making sense of statistical data from secondary sources: Analysis of census data, sample surveys etc.
• Reading of balance sheets, Company Reports

GL 12 Leadership Development

Rational of the Paper - The Turbulent external environment, intensifying competition for resources and demand for high performance and influencing organizations to become more flexible, more results focused and proactive organizations, both profit and not for profit are finding that such initiatives require able leadership, and the challenge for organizations and business schools alike is to help build effective leadership in organizations at all levels. At the societal level also there is a dire need to conduct capacity building programmes and training to develop leaders especially within the socially and economically disadvantaged population.

This paper aims at providing a comprehensive understanding about different aspects of leadership at its interface with variety of situations in general and labour in particular.
Objectives of the Paper- The broad objectives of the paper will be as follows –

• Examination of the Contemporary definitions of leadership, exploration of selected historical and contemporary models of leadership.
• Understanding the responsibilities of leadership, moral and ethical decisions and the use of authority and power;
• Examination on the context of leadership
•  Application of the foundational areas of leadership to practical and real life situations within organizations.
• To examine leadership in trade unions and other membership based bodies

Contents of the Paper –

• History of leadership theories, Leader vs. Manager, transformational vs. transactional leaders, leader competencies. How should leaders be evaluated and how are leaders chosen? Big 5 factors of selection of leaders and criticism.
• Leadership and supervision: Managerial grid, Situational leadership, Fieldler’s framework, Contingency factors and followers attitudes and behavior, criticism of the contingency approach, Vroom’s normative model and path-goal theory.
• Different perspectives: Essentials of leadership, Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and their leadership principles, women and leadership, Follower ship.
• Power and Leadership: detailed discussion of work of David McClelland, detailed discussion of McClelland and Burham study, 5 sources of power, detailed discussion on Kipnis’s work, powerlessness and its impact.
•  Character and Personality: new character based leadership literature: Stephen Covey’s Seven habits of highly effective people, Principle centered leadership, First things First., Leading change: the arguments of values-based leadership.
• Leadership: the inner side of greatness. Cognitive approach to leadership.
•  Successful leaders in India: Discussions of business leaders, political leaders, community leaders and trade union leaders based on leadership theories learnt in the class.
• Leadership Development, Leadership Development strategies in Organizations: Relevant Case Studies

GL 13 World Trade Organisation, World Bank and International Monetary Fund

Rational of the Paper – WTO,WB, IMF are powerful organizations that literally control the policies of the developing countries. It is necessary to examine the true impact of these organizations on the lives of the people, especially the working people in developing countries.

The present paper would assist the students to know about the functioning of these organizations. How do they affect issues such as agriculture and farmers, the environment, human rights and the increasingly dominant role of global corporations? But the focus of the course will be essentially on how they has impacted labour rights and standards across the world and what are the stands of developing countries in this context.

Objectives of the Paper – The course has been designed to introduce to the students the fundamental theories forming the bases of profit governance.

• To acquaint the students with the basic structure and functioning of WTO, WB and IMF.
• To give exposure to the students regarding the basic principles of the three organizations and important agreements.
• To equip the students with the positions of India and different countries in the developing world in this regard.

Contents of the Paper-

• Breton Woods Conference and the origins of GATT, WB and IMF.
•  Fundamentals of WTO: Uruguay Round; Structure and Functions of WTO; Cooperation of WTO with other international organizations and relations with civil society.
• World Bank and its role in Developing Countries.
•  IMF and its influence on internal policies.
•  IMF, WB and Structural Adjust.
•  Basic principles of the WTO system and Important Agreements.
•  WTO and South Asia.
•  WTO and Labour Issues. The Havana Charter; the ‘social clause’. Linkage between Core Labour Standards and Trade Disciplines in the WTO. Implementation of social clause and key problems.
•  World Bank and Labour: Changes in approach since 1995.
•  World Bank and Urban Development.
•  IMF and the ‘Debt Trap’
• People’s movements against IMF, WB and WTO- An assessment.