Employers, employees and unions can apply to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) for help with employment problems they can’t resolve themselves or through mediation.
The ERA can decide on personal grievances, claims for unpaid wages and holiday pay, and disagreements about employment agreements.
Most migrants choose to be represented by a lawyer or employment advocate in the ERA. However, you can choose to represent yourself.
To have your claim heard by the ERA, you need to lodge an application online, by mail, or at the ERA office. You can find a template for the application here.
You will also need to include:
- your employment agreement (if you have one)
- wage records such as payslips (if you have them)
- other relevant documents such as emails or messages with your employer that support your claim
You can file an ERA application here. You will have to pay $71.55, and if you’re filing the application online, you will need a RealMe login. You can pay by credit card or online bank payment.
The ERA will send a copy of your application to your employer. Once your employer receives the application, they have 14 days to reply. The ERA will then schedule a meeting to discuss the timetable and when the hearing (called an Investigation Meeting) will be held. Investigation Meetings are held in-person, usually in the town or city of the employment.
You will be able to make a statement about the facts from your perspective before the Investigation Meeting. You can attach supporting documents and evidence. You can ask anyone else to also provide a statement. Anyone who provides a statement must attend the Investigation Meeting (although they may be able to appear by video link). The ERA can provide an interpreter for an Investigation Meeting.
Investigation Meetings are not as formal as Court hearings. The person running the Investigation Meeting will give everyone a fair chance to present their evidence. They may ask you questions so they can better understand what has happened.
You can find out more about Investigation Meetings on the ERA website.
