Principles of employment relations in Islam: a normative view

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a normative perspective of employment relations in Islam.

Design/methodology/approach – The perspective on employment relations offered in this paper is based on a reading of the principal Islamic texts (the Qur'an and the hadith) and a review of the literature on Islamic economics.

Findings – Despite varied interpretations and practices of the economic system in Islam, it is possible to identify a common emphasis on ethical conduct of employers and employees and social justice in Islamic ideology.

Originality/value – Given the paucity of research on employment relations in Islam, the paper offers an original perspective on this topic.