ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the analysis of contemporary labour relations in industrial enterprises in the process of transition from the command to the market economy. The main areas of privatization were to be enterprises in the electricity, food, construction and building materials industries, and in sectors providing technical support for agriculture, transport, trade, public catering and social services. The effects of the changes in government policy described obviously influence behaviour within enterprises. Transformation into joint-stock companies has not changed anything in terms of the relationship of individual employees to property. During the period of our research the general economic situation in Russia was worsening. The investment situation in most Russian industrial enterprises is in crisis. Middle managers strive increasingly to gain economic independence and to transform their divisions into independent enterprises. The majority of enterprises studied had to reduce the number of employees because of considerable cutbacks in production.
