Firm Stresses Need to Manage Employee Relations

It was a gathering of who is who in the business of law at the Wheatbaker, Ikoyi, Lagos, as the law firm of Jackson, Etti and Edu and immigration firm Fragomen, recently put together a seminar with the theme, ‘Managing Employment Relations and Immigration Issues: The Myths, Challenges and Solutions’.

The gathering discussed the common links between employment relations, immigration and tax in the current landscape across a range of sectors, including energy and natural resources, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and infrastructure in Nigeria.

The event which kicked off with a keynote address delivered by Honourable Justice Benedict Kanyip, the Presiding Judge of National Industrial Court (Lagos Division), which was followed by panel sessions comprised immigration practitioners, human resource managers, local content specialists, tax specialists and regulatory authorities such as the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Ministry of Interior, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and the Lagos Internal Revenue Service; and an interview comprised of immigration practitioners.

In his speech, Justice Kanyip said employee relations had replaced industrial relations as the term used in defining the relationship between employers and employees. Today, employee relations is seen as focusing on both individual and collective relationships with an increasing emphasis on allowing line managers for instance, establish true based relationships with employees. A positive climate of employee relations with increased employee involvement, commitment and engagement can improve business outcomes and contribute to employee’s well-being.