What bodies are responsible for hearing disputes between employers and employees in the UK regarding employment issues?

Employment tribunals (ET) are the bodies specifically established to hear disputes arising between employers and employees concerning various employment issues in the UK. These tribunals play a crucial role in resolving claims related to unfair dismissal, discrimination, wage disputes, and other employment rights matters.

The structure of employment tribunals is designed to provide a formal, yet accessible, legal forum for individuals to seek justice without the need for extensive legal representation, which encourages fair and equitable resolutions. This system helps to uphold workers' rights and ensure that employment laws are enforced effectively.

In contrast, employment agencies primarily focus on recruitment and placing candidates in jobs rather than adjudicating disputes. Labour courts, while relevant in some legal systems, do not exist as a separate entity in the UK, as employment tribunals serve this function instead. Workplace arbitration panels, on the other hand, are typically used to resolve disputes through an agreed-upon process between both parties but do not have the same formal legal authority as employment tribunals in adjudicating employment disputes.