Industrial Relations Society of WA

The Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia in conjunction with Corrs Chambers Westgarth presented the following seminar: 

"Joint Employment - Legal Myth or Practical Reality"

on Wednesday 13 October 2004

Nick Ellery, Partner Corrs Chambers Westgarth, reviewed recent decisions of state and federal industrial tribunals that have examined the concept of joint employment which is where more than one employer shares employee-related obligations in respect of the same employee. Some of these cases concerned labour hire companies and their clients but some did not, suggesting that perhaps the concept of joint employment could have far broader application than labour hire arrangements. Nick also considered why this concept seems to have suddenly found favour with a number of Commission members and poses the question: "Is it time for Governments to legislate to give effect to the practical reality of joint employment and, if so, on what basis?"

The papers from the seminar can be viewed here.