Labour & Employee Relations Manager - Manufacturing Sector

Role Overview:

This role is responsible for managing end-to-end labour and employee relations (L&ER) at the plant level, ensuring compliance with labour laws, maintaining positive industrial relations, and supporting business objectives. The position involves close interaction with unions, government authorities, and internal stakeholders to ensure harmonious workforce management and adherence to statutory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Compliance:

- Ensure adherence to Factories Act, Contract Labour Act, PF/ESI, POSH, and other statutory obligations; manage audits, permits, and court cases in liaison with authorities.

2. Employee Relations & Engagement:

- Drive two-way communication, cultural interventions, team-building, and welfare initiatives (canteen, transport, medical, community engagement).

3. Grievance & Discipline:

- Handle complaints, grievances, misconduct, domestic enquiries, and disciplinary actions; prevent and resolve industrial disputes.

4. Strategic IR & Union Management:

- Negotiate and manage long-term wage settlements (LTS), maintain union relationships, and provide strategic inputs for workforce planning, downsizing, and staff augmentation.

5. Welfare & Safety:

- Oversee employee welfare measures, insurance, health programs, accident investigations, and safety audits in collaboration with the safety team.

Decision-Making Scope:

- Recommend/implement disciplinary actions, labour strategies, negotiation plans, and welfare initiatives.

- Lead union discussions, grievance handling, and collective bargaining within set frameworks.

Key Interfaces:

- Internal: Plant Management, HR Teams, Functional Managers.

- External: Union representatives, government authorities, advocates/legal counsel.

Profile Requirements:

- Education: MBA (HR) / MSW; law degree preferred.

- Experience: 10+ years in manufacturing sector with proven IR/ER expertise.

- Skills: Marathi Language is a MUST.

- Strong labor law knowledge, collective bargaining, conflict resolution, employee engagement, and negotiation skills.

- Directly manages team members; indirectly supports 450-600 employees.

- Influences business continuity, compliance, and workforce harmony.