Introduction: employment relations in Africa
| Published date | 27 June 2008 |
| Pages | 329-332 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450810879321 |
| Date | 27 June 2008 |
| Author | Geoffrey Wood |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
Introduction: employment
relations in Africa
Geoffrey Wood
School of Management, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Abstract
Purpose – This introduction aims to review the present state of research on employment relations in
Africa, and provide an overview of subsequent papers.
Design/methodology/approach – The article provides a brief review on the journal issue.
Findings – Despite considerable diversity across the continent, a number of common issues and
themes emerge. These would include the sharp divide between formal and informal work, the
problems faced by unions in organizing in contexts where formal employment is shrinking, and the
often negative effects of liberalization. What all the articles in this special issue point to is that the
prospects of enhancing the quality of working life, and imparting greater fairness to the
implementation of the employment contract is contingent on both national institution building –
allowing for the nurturing of complementarities conducive to the expansion, entrenchment and
development of higher value added production paradigms – and fairer terms, more equitable relations
with the developed world.
Practical implications – Understanding of the practice of employment relations in Africa can be
greatly advanced through collaborative initiatives aimed at developing the capacity of emerging
scholars and ensuring that the work of more mature scholars of employment based at African
universities receives the exposure it deserves.
Originality/value – The article introduces the papers in the issue.
Keywords Africa, Human resourcing
Paper type General review
A major limitation in the literature on employment relations is the very limited
coverage of the African continent; this is particularly the case if studies dealing with
the relatively developed economy of South Africa are factored out of the equation. And,
yet, the study of employment relations in Africa can shed light on a wide range of
contemporary issues and debates: the dynamics of working in insecure and
non-standard contracts; strategies for union outreach and renewal; the consequences of
the uneven enforcement of labour legislation; contemporary advances in institutional
theory; and the pressures posed on working life by the intensification of international
competition.
A 2006 study has revealed that not only were articles dealing with African very
under-represented in international employment relations journals, but, indeed, that
over time, the number of such articles was decreasing (Wood and Dibben, 2006). Even
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0142-5455.htm
The author would like to thank the panel of readers who reviewed papers for this special issue (in
no particular order): Gail Seidman, Fergus Lyon, Dave Collings, Mick Brookes, Debrah Yah,
Debby Bonnin, Chris Brewster, Roger Southall, Christine Psoulis, Fergus Lyon, Chris Bolsmann,
Pauline Dibben, Ian Roper, Mark Harcourt, and Samar Badar. Thanks are also due to Ida Regalia
for prodding me to undertake this endeavour, and the Editors of Employee Relations for making
this possible.
Employment
relations in
Africa
329
Employee Relations
Vol. 30 No. 4, 2008
pp. 329-332
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/01425450810879321
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