Professor Harry Katz, who began his three-year term as president of the International Labour and Employment Relations Association on June 24, plans to expand the organization’s global role, particularly in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.

Industrial relations is beginning to play a key role in the social and economic development in those locations with support from emerging national labor and employment relations associations, said Katz, ILR’s Jack Sheinkman Professor of Collective Bargaining and director of the Scheinman Institute.

Katz said he also looks forward to continuing the mission of the International Labor and Employment Relations Association, established in 1967 to promote the study and practice of labor and employment relations through activities such as:

• encouraging the establishment and development of national associations of labor and employment relations specialists.
• facilitating the spread of information about significant developments in research and education in the field of labor and employment relations;
• organizing worldwide and regional congresses; and
• promoting internationally planned research, by organizing study groups on particular topics.

Today, the association includes industrial relations scholars and practitioners, and 38 national associations. Its World Congress is held every three years; scholars, policymakers and other stakeholders exchange ideas and best practices. The International Labor and Employment Relations Association secretariat is administered by the International Labor Organization, based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The 19th World Congress, organized by outgoing association president Mia Rönnmar of Lund University, Sweden, was held virtually June 21-24. On the final day of the event, Katz began his presidency.