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Industrial Relations Officer

Business

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

Human ResourcesLaw

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
  2. 2Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
  3. 3Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
  4. 4Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
  5. 5Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
  6. 6Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
  7. 7Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
  8. 8Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.
  9. 9Monitor company or workforce adherence to labor agreements.
  10. 10Recommend collective bargaining strategies, goals, or objectives.
  11. 11Call or meet with union, company, government, or other interested parties to discuss labor relations matters, such as contract negotiations or grievances.
  12. 12Assess risk levels associated with collective bargaining strategies.
  13. 13Present the position of the company or of labor during arbitration or other labor negotiations.
  14. 14Draft rules or regulations to govern collective bargaining activities in collaboration with company, government, or employee representatives.
  15. 15Identify alternatives to proposals of unions, employees, companies, or government agencies.
  16. 16Research case law or outcomes of previous case hearings.
  17. 17Assess the impact of union proposals on company or government operations.
  18. 18Write letters related to labor relations activities, such as letters to amend collective bargaining agreements, letters of dispute or conciliation, or letters to seek clarification of contract terms.
  19. 19Advise management on matters related to the administration of contracts or employee discipline or grievance procedures.
  20. 20Schedule or coordinate the details of grievance hearings or other meetings.
  21. 21Review and approve employee disciplinary actions, such as written reprimands, suspensions, or terminations.
  22. 22Train managers or supervisors on topics related to labor relations, such as working conditions, safety, or equal opportunity practices.
  23. 23Select mediators or arbitrators for labor disputes or contract negotiations.
  24. 24Provide expert testimony in legal proceedings related to labor relations or labor contracts.
  25. 25Develop employee health and safety policies.
  26. 26Develop methods to monitor employee satisfaction with policies or working conditions, including grievance or complaint procedures.
  27. 27Prepare reports or presentations to communicate employee satisfaction or related data to management.
  28. 28Prepare and submit required governmental reports or forms related to labor relations matters, such as equal employment opportunity (EEO) forms, new hire forms, or minority compensation reports.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • ERBP
  • Labor Rep
  • Union Rep
  • Conciliator
  • Employee Rep
  • HR Specialist
  • Union Steward
  • Business Agent
  • Labor Mediator
  • Labor Organizer

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

BusinessDraws directly on Personnel and Human Resources — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
History (Sejarah)Draws directly on Law and Government — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EconomicsDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Personnel and Human Resources81%

    Business

  • English Language74%

    English

  • Law and Government72%

    History (Sejarah)

  • Administration and Management63%

    BusinessEconomics

  • Education and Training57%
  • Customer and Personal Service54%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsEvery day
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

11%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Compliance / Regulatory Officer

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Labor Relations Specialists

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue