What Happens At JPPM Conciliation
A conciliation meeting has a purpose and a structure worth knowing beforehand.
What Actually Happens At JPPM Conciliation?
Conciliation is a meeting run by an officer to help both sides settle, held after your written representation is lodged.
You and a representative of your employer attend, and the officer mediates directly between you rather than acting as a judge deciding the outcome.
Solicitors are not permitted to represent either party in the room during this stage, which shapes the meeting into a more direct, informal conversation 1.
Usually one or two sessions take place before the process moves to its next stage.
What The Meeting Is Actually Trying To Achieve
The officer’s role is to help both sides find common ground, not to decide who was right.
You may be asked what outcome you are seeking, and your employer will typically respond with their own position.
If an agreement is reached, it generally settles the matter, so read any proposed terms carefully before accepting them.
If no agreement is reached, the case moves forward automatically: since the 2020 amendment, it goes straight to the Industrial Court without a minister deciding whether it proceeds 2.
How To Prepare For Your Session
Write out clearly what happened and what outcome you are hoping for before the meeting takes place.
Read about whether you can bring a lawyer into the room so you know the current position beforehand.
Understand how JPPM differs from the Labour Office if you are unsure which body is actually handling your matter.
An employment lawyer cannot sit in the room with you, but preparing beforehand with one can still make a real difference.
Arrive with your key documents organised and easy to reference, even though a formal presentation is not expected at this stage.
Staying calm and factual during the meeting tends to serve you better than an emotional appeal, even when the underlying situation is genuinely upsetting.
If the meeting becomes heated or unproductive, it is reasonable to ask the officer for a short pause to collect your thoughts.
Remember that this is one stage in a longer process, and a single difficult session does not determine the final outcome of your case.
Most people find the actual meeting less daunting than they expected once it is underway.
Preparation is what makes that difference.
Knowing the room in advance takes away much of its weight.
Preparing what you want to say, and understanding what a fair settlement might look like, is something an employment lawyer can help with before the session.
Common questions
Who actually attends the conciliation meeting?
You, a representative from your employer, and an industrial relations officer who runs the session are the usual attendees. It is a meeting run by an officer to help both sides settle, not a formal courtroom hearing.
Can I bring anyone with me for support?
Policies on who may accompany you can vary, and solicitors are not permitted to represent either side in the room, so confirm current arrangements with the department before the session.
What if we reach an agreement at conciliation?
A settlement reached at this stage typically ends the matter, so read any proposed terms carefully before agreeing to them, even under time pressure during the meeting.
What happens if no agreement is reached?
If conciliation fails, the case does not stop there. The Director General refers it straight to the Industrial Court, without a separate ministerial decision on whether it proceeds.
Sources
- Solicitors are not permitted to represent parties during conciliation at the Industrial Relations Department, where an officer mediates directly between the worker and the employer. Mah Weng Kwai & Associates
- Since the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2020, the Director General refers a case straight to the Industrial Court once conciliation fails, without ministerial screening. MECA
Keep reading
Preparing what you want to say, and understanding what a fair settlement might look like, is something an employment lawyer can help with before the session.