CHANGING NATURE OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN THE ERA OF DIGITALISATION

The era of digitalisation has transformed the world of work and industrial relations. Traditional industrial relations were based on stable employment, physical workplaces, direct supervision and collective bargaining through trade unions. In contrast, the digital era is marked by flexible work, platform employment, remote working, algorithmic management and digital surveillance. Digitalisation has created opportunities for productivity, flexibility and innovation, but it has also generated new risks such as job insecurity, weak social protection, declining union power and data-based control. Therefore, industrial relations must adapt to the digital age. The future of industrial relations should be based on fairness, transparency, social dialogue and inclusive regulation. Workers should not be treated merely as data points in digital systems. They should have voice, dignity and rights in the digital workplace. A balanced approach is required where technology supports both business growth and decent work.

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