Book excerpt: "A well-coordinated, professional and efficient labour administration machinery is essential to the effective governance of the labour market. This book will be an invaluable resource for labour administrators, labour inspectors, conciliators, employment service officials, governments, workers, employers, researchers and professionals. This unique volume clearly sets out the role, functions and organization of labour administration, highlighting the relationship between social policy and economic policy, and identifying the vast array of services to which most people have access during their working lives. It gives a comprehensive overview of the main principles of labour administration, covering labour legislation, industrial relations, working conditions and employment, and describes ways in which current challenges can be met through policy, organization, coordination and management."--Publisher's website.