What The Industrial Court Is

The Industrial Court is where an unfair dismissal case ends up once conciliation fails to produce a settlement between you and your employer.

What It Means

It is a dedicated tribunal, separate from the regular civil courts, created under the Industrial Relations Act 1967 to hear disputes like unfair dismissal claims and issue a binding decision called an award.

The court sits in several locations. It is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, with branches in Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.¹

Why It Matters To You

Reaching this stage means your case is finally being heard on its merits, rather than negotiated informally. Both sides can bring a lawyer, unlike at conciliation, and evidence is presented formally.

This stage also takes longer than conciliation, since cases are heard in the order they are received, so patience matters as much as preparation.

Which Division Hears Your Case

Your case is usually heard at the division nearest to where you worked, which is why the branch structure matters for how far you may need to travel for hearings.

Before a full hearing, your case typically starts with a shorter mention and requires cause papers to be filed setting out the dispute in writing.

If you are unsure whether your original filing is still within time, confirm it on the deadline calculator, since that earlier deadline shapes everything that follows.