Abstract: This paper examines Industrial Relations (IR) in a developing country under the influence of two foreign-owned Multinational Companies (MNCs). By means of qualitative research, two banks, one US-based, the other South African-owned, are studied to determine the influence of the firm and of the host country in shaping IR practices. The paper begins by discussing employment relations in Tanzania, and then focuses on how the banks are actively transferring their employment practices to their subsidiaries. Considering the challenges posed by the host country IR systems, the paper illustrates how Tanzania aims to strike a balance between IR practices in the two MNCs and the social and economic need to sustain employment.
International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations