ABSTRACT

Small and medium-sized enterprises are independent businesses with limited size, managed by its owner or co-owners and having a small market share. The models advanced the understanding of employment relations in small firms by considering the influences of both size and external variables. Employment relations in small firms are, therefore, complex and heterogeneous. Understanding employment relations in small firms requires sensitivity to external constraints while acknowledging how internal forces shape the process. The study of ethnic minority businesses has been playing a significant role in advancing knowledge in the field of employment relations in small firms. Members of their communities shared common needs and cultures, which helped to consolidate employer-employee relationships to ease the management. The Chinese in Britain have diverse origins and cultural backgrounds. Seamen were the first group of Chinese to the UK during the 1850s. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.