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What are labour standards?

As an owner there are many factors you need to be wary of such as competition, changes in the market and labour standards. Labour standards in recent times have become an important aspect of any business organization.

Labour law or employment law is the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which addresses the legal rights of, and restrictions on, workers and their organizations.

They are a set of conventions written and practiced in the business community with regard to the conduct of employee- employer ethics and management. It is important for the employee as well as the employer to get a good and sound understanding of these laws for starting his / her business.

The employees use it to protect their rights and to ensure that they get treated fairly while employer needs to know them to ensure fair play in different aspects of business functioning such as hiring, work ethics and so on.

Being aware with the labour standards prevalent in a specific industry or regions endows the employer with many advantages. Some of them are:

1. Defining employment conditions:
A clear understanding of the labour laws helps in laying clear and reasonable employment and working conditions. When the standards or rules are followed, the conditions end up being in sync with other businesses operating in similar markets or regions and have a sense of homogeneity.

2. Deal with workplace issues
These standards help to sort out numerous issues which arise in the business as well the employees. With regard to employees, it helps in sorting out issues such as workplace violence etc while for the employer it gives a framework to conduct his/her business proficiently and in a ‘just’ manner.

3. Exploitation of Labour:
Knowledge about the labour standards can help you avoid getting embroiled in issues such as number of working hours or exploitation of labour. For example, as a business manager you may be helping an employee to realize his / her potential by giving him challenging assignments. But that may lead to other consequences such as exploitation of the employee by making him overwork etc.

The other area where these laws could prove to be useful would be in the health and safety of your employees and relieving an employee of his or her services / unfair dismissal.

Thus, a sound knowledge of labour standards and laws always come in handy and help you aver such situations.

4. Minimum Wages
In some countries and states, the laws require the employer to pay its employees a minimum basic wages, the ceiling for which keeps varying from one state to another. States apart such laws are different for different countries too.

You may get more information pertaining to laws of your country or state by visiting the specific sites on the web such as www.dol.gov/esa for people in the US.