Forms of Workers participation in management are:

1. Works Committee;
2. Joint Management Councils;
3. Joint Councils;
4. Shop Councils;
5. Unit Councils.

Work committees:

These works committees / joint committees are consultative bodies. Their functions include discussion of condition of work like lighting, ventilation, temperature, sanitation etc., and amenities like water supply for drinking purposes, provision of canteens, medical services, safe working conditions, administration of welfare funds, education and recreational activities, and encouragement of thrift and savings. It shall be the duty of the works committee to promote measures for securing and preserving amity and good relation between the employers and workmen and to comment upon matters of their common interest or concern and endeavor to reconcile any material difference of opinion in respect of such matters.

Joint Management Councils (JMCs)

A sub-committee consisting of representatives of employers, workers and government should be set up for considering the details of workers participation in management schemes. This committee should select the undertaking where workers participation in management schemes would be introduced in the first stage on an experimental basis.

Objectives: The objectives of Joint Management Councils are as follows:

1. To increase the association of employers and employee thereby promoting cordial industrial relations;
2. To improve the operational efficiency of the workers;
3. To provide welfare facilities to them;
4. To educate workers so that they are well equipped to participate in these schemes; 5. To satisfy the psychological needs of workers.

Joint Councils

The joint councils are for the whole unit and its membership remains confined to those who are actually engaged in the organization. The tenure of the joint councils is for two years. The Chief executive of the unit becomes its Chairman. Workers members of the council nominate the Vice Chairman. The joint council appoints the Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for discharging the functions of the council.

The joint councils will meet once in four months, but the periodicity of the meeting varies from unit to unit, it may be once in a month, quarter etc. The decisions taken at the joint council meetings are by his process of consensus and the management shall implement the decisions within one month. The scheme was implemented by the major units of the central and State governments. The government enlarged the functions of the councils in 1976.

Shop Councils

The shop council represents each department or a shop in an unit .Each shop council will consist of an equal number of representatives of employers and workers .The employers representatives will be nominated by the management and must consist of persons from within the unit concerned .The workers representative will be from among the workers of the department or shop concerned. The number of members of each council may be determined by the employers in consultation with the recognized union. The total number of members however, may not generally exceed twelve.

The decisions of the shop council are t be taken on the basis of consensus but not by voting .Management has to implement the decisions within one month .The tenure of the shop council is for a period of two years .Members of the shop councils meet at least once in a month .Management nominates the Chairman of the shop council whereas workers members of the council elect the Vice-chairman of the council.

The numbers of shop councils to be established in an organization are determined by the employer in consultation with the recognized trade unions/workers of the organization. The decisions of a shop council which have a bearing on another shop will be referred to joint council for consideration and approval.