Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 360/06
Hearing date 10 Nov 2006
Determination date 28 November 2006
Member L Robinson
Representation R Daunton (in person) ; S Porter
Location Auckland
Parties Daunton v Pacific Pine Chemicals Ltd
Summary PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Identity of employer - Applicant accepted position with company to be formed and registered in Fiji, from director of respondent - Entered individual employment agreement (IEA") with respondent - Worked two months in New Zealand then moved to Fiji - Respondent claimed applicant employed by Fijian company as soon as moved - Fijian company not formed when applicant arrived - Could not have been employed by something that did not exist - Applicant not employed under pre-incorporation contract - Employment agreement with Fijian company not concluded - Respondent maintained time in New Zealand for training and induction only, but IEA not limited in any way - IEA expressly contemplated terms being operative in multiple locations and wording capable of including work in Fiji - IEA not terminated simply by arrival in Fiji or establishment of Fijian company, something more overt required, namely new employment agreement - Applicant remained employed by respondent under terms of IEA - JURISDICTION - Conflict of laws - Whether appropriate jurisdiction for claim New Zealand or Fiji - IEA expressly stated Employment Relations Act 2000 applied - New Zealand law applied to employment relationship problem - Authority had jurisdiction - General manager"
Result Questions answered in favour of applicant ; Parties directed to mediation ; Orders accordingly ; Costs reserved
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: aa 360_06.pdf [pdf 37 KB]