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Globalization, Labour Market Institutions, Processes and Policies in India pp 87–107Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Exploring the Pattern of Trade Union Activity in the Indian Manufacturing Sector

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Abstract

This chapter begins by decrying the lack of data on unions and union activity in India and points out that most empirical work uses proxy measurements such as strikes to infer union activity. The chapter overcomes the data hurdle by using data from a specially commissioned survey of manufacturing firms spread over five Indian states. Using this data, the presence of a union in a firm is linked to a variety of firm characteristics using a limited dependent variable (probit) model. The results indicate that unions are located in firms where there are rents to be shared. In addition to this, the results show that the presence of unions seems to be sensitive to the prevailing legal milieu—highlighting an interesting relationship with temporary contract workers. The results also provide empirical support to some of the insights offered by the incomplete contract analysis of labour markets.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See Aditya Bhattacharjea “Labour market regulation and industrial performance in India: A critical review of the empirical evidence” Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Vol. 49, No. 2, (2006): 211–232; Aditya Bhattacharjea “The Effects of Employment Protection Legislation on Indian Manufacturing” Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 44, No. 22 (2009): 55–62.

  2. 2.

    Steel Authority of India v. National Union Water Front Workers AIR 2001 SC 352.

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Acknowledgement

The chapter is a part of the ‘Jobs and Development’ research project at ICRIER supported by the World Bank (Grant No.: 502915-01). Financial support from World Bank is gratefully acknowledged. The authors would like to thank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) for allowing references to the working paper by the co-authors under the same project. The views expressed are of the authors solely. The usual disclaimers apply.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor, Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Jaivir Singh

  2. Associate Professor, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Deb Kusum Das

  3. External Consultant, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, India

    Deb Kusum Das

  4. Research Assistant, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, India

    Kumar Abhishek

  5. Research Associate, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, India

    Prateek Kukreja

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  1. Jaivir Singh
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  2. Deb Kusum Das
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Professor, HRM Area, XLRI, Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, India

    K. R. Shyam Sundar

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Singh, J., Das, D.K., Abhishek, K., Kukreja, P. (2019). Exploring the Pattern of Trade Union Activity in the Indian Manufacturing Sector. In: Shyam Sundar, K.R. (eds) Globalization, Labour Market Institutions, Processes and Policies in India. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7111-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7111-0_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-7110-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-7111-0

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