The Multi-Dimensions of Industrial Relations in the Asian Knowledge-Based Economies EDITED BY SUNUNTA SLENGTHAI, JOHN J. LAWLER, CHRIS ROWLEY AND HIROMASA SUZUKI Chandos Publishing Oxford Cambridge New Delhi
CONTENTS Acknowledgements List of Figures List of Tables ix xi xiii Abbreviations ^ xv A bout the A uthors xv i i Overview of Economic Growth and Industrial Relations in Asian Knowledge-based Economies Sununta Siengthai, John J. Lmvler, Chris Rowley and Hiromasa Suzuki I 1. Introduction I 2. Japan 3 3. Korea 7 4. Taiwan 12 5. Singapore 17 6. Thailand 21 7. The Philippines 26 8. Conclusion 30 2. Industrial Relations in the Turbulent Times 31 Sununta Siengthai 1. Introduction 31 2. Business Strategy and Human Resource Management (HRM) 35 3. Unionization and Productivity 36 4. Labour -Management Conflict 37 5. Conflict and Organizational Learning 38 6. Organizational Learning and Productivity Improvement 40 7. Conclusion 44
3. Globalization of Japanese Firms and Human Resource Management 47 Hiromasa Suzuki and Katsuyuki Kubo 1 Introduction 47 2 The Changing Context 48 2.1 Economic Environment (1980-2006) 48 2.2 Changes in the Japanese Labor Market 51 3. Changing Roles of Industrial Relations Actors 53 4. Human Resource Management in Practice 58 5. Changes in Pay Policies 60 6. Conclusion 63 7. Case Study 64 8. Questions for Discussion 68 4. Globalization and Industrial Relations in Korea 71 Young-bum Park 1. Introduction 71 2. Basic Features of Korea's Industrial Relations System 72 3. Developments in Korea's Industrial Relations Since 1987 73 4. Discussions on Amendments on Labor Laws in Korea 78 5. Conclusion 79 6. Overview of the Korean Automotive Industry 81 7. Case Study: Globalization and Industrial Relations at Hyundai 83 Motor Company 8. Questions for Discussion 93 5. Industrial Relations in Knowledge-based Economy: 95 The Case of the Banking Industry in Taiwan Joseph S. Lee 1. Introduction 95 2. The Emergence ofakbe and Changes in Industrial Relations 96 in Taiwan 3. Industrial Relations in the Banking Industry 108 3.1 Changes in the Banking Industry Environment 108
3.2 Problems Relating to Changes in the Industrial Structure 110 3.3 Responses to the Changes by Employees 113 3.4 Acquiring New Skills for Alternative Employment 117 Opportunities 4. Conclusion 118 5. Case Study - The Bank of Overseas Chinese 119 6. Questions for Discussion 123 6. Singapore Industrial Relations System in the Globalization Era 125 David Wan 1. Introduction 125 2. Development of Industrial Relations in Singapore 126 3. Employment Relations in Transition 129 4. Conclusion 132 5. Case Study: Singapore Airlines 133 5.1 Background Information on Singapore Airlines 133 5.2 Labor-Management Relations in Singapore Airlines 135 6. Questions for Discussion 139 7. Globalization and Industrial Relations in Thailand 141 Sununta Siengthai 1. Introduction 141 2. The Thai Economy after the Financial Crisis 142 3. Industrial Relations in the 1990s 146 3.1 Structure of the Social Partners 146 3.2 Industrial Relations:*Before and After 1997 149 4. Conclusion 158 5. Case Studies 159 5.1 Toyota Motor Thailand Co. Ltd. 159 5.2 The ATP Industry Co. Ltd. 161 5.3 Far East Knitwear Co. Ltd. 165 5.4 Asia Garment Co. Ltd. 166 6. Discussion of Case Studies 169 7. Questions for Discussion 171 VII
8. Globalization and Industrial Relations in the Philippines 173 Maragtas V. Amante 1. Introduction 173 2. The Philippine Labor Market Context 174 3. Philippine Industrial Relations 176 3.1 Government 179 3.2 Employers 181 3.3 Worker Organizations ^ 182 4. Conclusion 184 5. Case Studies 186 5.1 The Struggle of Nestle Workers in the Philippines 186 5.2 The Philippine Auto Industry and Toyota Motor Philippines 190 5.3 Non-union HRM Strategies at Work: Labor Management 204 Council in the Enchanted Kingdom Theme Park 6. Questions for Discussion 206 Appendix 1. Important Labor Laws in the Philippines 210 9. Making Industrial Relations Work in the Globalization Era: 215 Challenges Ahead for Knowledge-based Economies Sununta Siengthai, John J. Lawler, Chris Rowley and Hiromasa Suzuki 1. Summary and Conclusion 215 2. Making Industrial Relations Work for Competitive Advantage 221 3. Challenges Ahead 224 REFERENCES 227