THE NEED FOR SOCIAL WORKERS IN AN INDUSTRY.

INTRODUCTION
The process of social change whereby a human group is transformed from pre-industrial society into an industrial one is what is known as INDUSTRILISATION. It is also a process of wider modernization where social change and economic development and advancement of large scale energy and metallurgy productions. This technological advancement has played a substantial role in the making as well as in the marring of social welfare among human groupings. This is to say that the mechanization of work activities as well the contemporary state of globalization has effects on people especially in the world of work. These effects are however detrimental as well as beneficial to social partners in the industrial organizations. It appears therefore that as technological innovations and inventions advances, social welfare of people at work also improves.
A critical look into the above submission and the contemporary interrelationship between the social partners-the workforce and managers- in the world of work shows that it is only one group that is improving in terms of social welfare. This is not to say that the other group’s social welfare is not improving but the claim made here is that “the improvement of social welfare of one group is increasing at an increasing rate while that of other group is increasing at a decreasing rate”. This therefore shows that some groups of people in that world of work are vulnerable and need effective social services that will enable them survive as individual and to function appropriately in industrial societies. It is needless to say here that the vulnerable groups are workers. This therefore brings about the urgent need of social workers in industrial organizations to help the working group realize their full potentials which is the main focus of this article.

THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL WORK
Prior to the year 2000, it was widely accepted that social work could be defined as an organized work intended to advance the Social conditions of a community and especially of the disadvantage groups by providing psychological counseling, guidance and assistance in form of social services (on line dictionary of social work 1993). This means that social work is a professional activity of helping individual, groups and communities enhance and restore their capacity for social functioning and creation of social conditions favorable for all compatriots. Bit following the outcome of the general meeting of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) on the issue of social work definition held in July, 2000 in Montereal, Canada, it was concluded a new definition of social work will replace the old one while understanding that the profession (social work) in the 21st century is dynamic and evolving, thus no definition should be viewed as exhaustive.
While describing social work, it was construed as “a profession that promotes social change, problem-solving in human relationships utilizing theories of human behaviors and social systems. Social work intervenes at the point where people interact with there environment” summing it up, I will submit that social work is a profession which involved the provision of NEED to the NEEDY, it now depends on individual definition of NEED as well as the NEEDY.

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICES IN INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS
The IFSN has also submitted that there is no clear boundary of social work practices among human groupings and in the larger society. This is because Human Right and Social Justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work actions. From this point of view, it can be accepted that the role of social workers in Industrial Organization is not only needed but also justifiable. In addition, a close look into the current trend in the attitudinal behaviour of Human Resources Managers (HRS) of today shows that there is urgent need for social services in industrial organization. The role of Human Resource Managers (HRM) is to effectively manage the human component of the organization and help the individual workers personalities in terms of knowledge. Skill, welfare, safety and other right as well as psychological benefits of these working groups. This is due to improve their (workers) performance on the job which in turn will enhance the speedy achievement of organizational goals and objectives. (Bankole Akanji, 2000).
Unfortunately, reverse is the case in Industrial Organizations of today. Social partners now perceive HRMs as members of management staff of every organization who undoubtedly will often promote and protect the interests of the employers at the expense of workers interests. Because of these, it therefore becomes so glaring that if not for the growing pervasiveness of Trade Unionism, workers will be living like strangers in the land of theirs. They will have nowhere to resort to for immunities in checking the excesses of employers. It is pertinent to note at this juncture that some organizations are yet to allow or register trade unions. This means that workers in such organizations will be living in penury.
If it is the truth therefore that social justice and human right provides basis for social work practices to be limitless, then professionals, and practitioners alike in the field (social work) are needed for emancipation of workers in the world of work. It thus, becomes a point of interest to identify among others the areas where social workers will be helpful to the working group in Industrial Organizations. These are listed below:
- Ergonomics
- Education and training
- Incapacities at work
- Young person employment
- Casualisation (among others)
Few of these shall be explained in this article;

- ERGONOMICS: This is a design of work environment in such a way to improve people’s working condition and to help them to work more efficiently by removing all sorts of industrial hazards and create a stress free factory environment. Nigeria Industrial Relations is characterized with some constraint among which occupational health and safety is one.
It has therefore been argued by several scholars and writers that the state of ergonomics in Nigeria industries needs serious improvement. It seems that the Factory Acts which was enacted to meet up with the essential need for the provision of health, safety and welfare for workers so that their safety will not be put in jeopardy (Adewunmi 1998) has not really been observed by employers. Second, the factories inspectorate who are responsible for the enforcement, the Factory Acts in the world of work are short facilities to effectively do this. Also among the problems relating to ergonomics is that the punishment provided by the Act is not adequate enough to ensure that erring employers comply (Ranti Samuel 2008). Thus, it becomes a point duty for social workers to intervene in this menace, explore their expertise and to recognize complexity of interaction between human beings and their working environment and the capacity of people to be affected by this relationship especially in terms of hazards. To alter the multiple influences upon them including bio-psychological factors which will help reduce workers vulnerability in the work place.
- EDUCATION AND TRAINING: It will be wise to explain this phenomenon from the “Peter Principle”, an organizational theory whose claim is that “workers have the tendencies of attaining their level of in competency in the work place: (Mullins, 2005). The tenet of this theory is that an employee when performing effectively will be promoted to another upper cader where the level of intelligence and performance needed is higher than that of his previous position. On getting to his new position, his level of competency will reduce base on the feet that it is his position that was upgraded while his knowledge and skills were not improved to meet up with the challenges of the new positions. Such worker may still be fortunate to get promoted to another higher level where more skills, knowledge as well as more responsibility are required. At this third position, the Peter Principle claims that he must have attained his level of in competencies (Mullins 2005). This therefore may lead to workers being declared as redundant. As such it becomes important for a periodic educational program, seminar, workshop etc. organized for workers to keep them informed on various aspects as may be needed to uplift their position in the world of work. Though this Educational function is a function of Trade Union, social workers can also join in the movement for keeping workers informed so that their intelligence as well as technological know-how will be improve and his will help boost the ego of the organization as well as improving the living standard of these working groups.
- INCAPACITY IN WORK PLACES: Workers in their daily integration with machineries and other industrial resources such as chemicals are exposed to certain hazards which may render workers permanently or partially incapacitated. The workmen Compensation Act has specified some ways through which injured workers can be compensated for injuries sustained. The provisions of the act regarding compensation compared to the value of humanity are insufficient, for instance, a workman whose hands or legs were amputated as a result of the injuries sustained in he process of work may be given a whole sum of amount as compensation. Undoubtedly, we all know that such money may not be enough to feed him for the rest of his life. Apart from this, the act has not provided for compensation as regards other psychological trainer that such victim may be going through. This therefore becomes a duty for industrial social workers to help the working group a normal and fulfilled life after such injuries.
- CASUALISATION: This is also an unfair labour practice that trade union in collaboration with social worker, human right activists and government should take time to address all related barriers, inequalities and injustices that exist in industrial society. This will help the disadvantaged group in industrial organization and it will also bring about industrial peace and harmony which serves as one of the prerequisites for national development.
- YOUNG PERSON EMPLOYMENT: The Labour Act of 1974 has addressed the issue of young person employment in such a way that they (children) will not involve themselves in carrying heavy load as their duty or work in a environment inimical to their health moral, psychological and physical development. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has also pointed out in their convention on “Core Labour Standard” that there should be an effective abolition of child labour in all forms. It therefore seems that these are responsibilities that involve the help hand of social workers to ensure that this dream is realized. This is because it is not very hard to find out in the cities of Nigeria some very young Nigerians who works in a way that may affect them in future especially those that hawks in the high ways. Researches have shown that this is due to the effect of poverty among Nigerians. This is another point where social workers should come in to help people enrich their lives and prevent them from dysfunctioning. Social Workers have been described several times as change agents in the society and in the lives of individuals, families and community they serve, thus they should extend this practices of change to industrial organization.

CONCLUSION
In summary, the current trend of globalization, transplanetry, industrialization, commercialization, urbanization and the continuous invention as well as advancement of technology has created a scenario in industrial organization that is completely different from the scenario prior to industrial revolution. Thus, new ways and practices should be applied into this current industrial organizational scenario so as to create for and avenue where the interrelationship between the social partners will be free of all forms of arbitrariness, injustices, slavery and inequalities in Nigeria industrial Societies. Social work as a profession that strives to alleviate poverty and liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion is unavoidably important in industries.

Oludeyi Olukunle Saheed.
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