Labor standards law vs. Labor relations law
QUESTION: How do the provisions of the law on labor relations interrelate, if at all, with the provisions pertaining to labor standards?
SUGGESTED ANSWER: Labor standards law is that branch of law which deals with the minimum standards of employment - minimum terms and conditions - that an employee is entitled to as a matter of right and that an employer is obliged to give to his employees.
LABOR RELATIONS LAW focuses its provisions on the collective aspects of employer-employee relationship. Its legal provisions deal with employees organizing unions and how through these unions, employees are able to have collective bargaining with their employer. On the other hand, LABOR STANDARDS LAW focuses on the terms and conditions of employment of employees as individual employees or those legal provisions dealing with wages, hours of work and other terms and conditions of employment.
There may be instances when the provisions of labor relations law may interrelate with provisions of labor standards law. Thus, a CBA which is dealt with in labor relations law may have provisions that improves upon the minimum terms and conditions of employment prescribed in labor standards law, like a CBA providing for a higher minimum wage, or for the computation of a higher overtime pay or the payment of holiday pay not only for regular holidays but also for certain special holidays.
SUGGESTED ANSWER: Labor standards law is that branch of law which deals with the minimum standards of employment - minimum terms and conditions - that an employee is entitled to as a matter of right and that an employer is obliged to give to his employees.
LABOR RELATIONS LAW focuses its provisions on the collective aspects of employer-employee relationship. Its legal provisions deal with employees organizing unions and how through these unions, employees are able to have collective bargaining with their employer. On the other hand, LABOR STANDARDS LAW focuses on the terms and conditions of employment of employees as individual employees or those legal provisions dealing with wages, hours of work and other terms and conditions of employment.
There may be instances when the provisions of labor relations law may interrelate with provisions of labor standards law. Thus, a CBA which is dealt with in labor relations law may have provisions that improves upon the minimum terms and conditions of employment prescribed in labor standards law, like a CBA providing for a higher minimum wage, or for the computation of a higher overtime pay or the payment of holiday pay not only for regular holidays but also for certain special holidays.
