What Happens At JPPM Conciliation?
Your claim has reached the stage where an officer tries to help both sides settle.
A conciliation date from the Industrial Relations Department means your case is finally moving. This page explains what actually happens in the room, who can speak for you, and what comes next if the two sides cannot agree.
What Is JPPM Conciliation?
JPPM is the Jabatan Perhubungan Perusahaan Malaysia, the department that handles disputes between workers and employers. Once your Section 20 representation is filed, JPPM arranges conciliation, a meeting run by an officer to help both sides settle.
The officer does not decide who is right. Their role is to help you and your employer find common ground, or to confirm that no agreement is possible.
Can A Lawyer Speak For Me In The Room?
No. Solicitors are not permitted to represent either party inside the meeting itself, so you or your employer’s representative speaks directly to the officer.1
That does not mean you should walk in unprepared. Many people meet a lawyer first to understand what a reasonable settlement looks like, so they know what to accept or decline on the day.
What Happens If We Cannot Agree?
If conciliation fails, your case does not stall. Since the 2020 amendment took effect, the Director General refers it straight to the Industrial Court, with no ministerial screening step in between.2
That change removed a delay that used to stretch some cases out for months. Once referred, your claim moves into the Industrial Court process, where the full facts of your dismissal are heard.
How Did My Case Reach This Stage?
Conciliation only happens after you have filed a written representation with the Director General, within 60 days of your dismissal.3
If you are unsure whether your filing is still inside that window, you can work out your exact deadline before your conciliation date arrives.
What Should I Bring To The Meeting?
Bring your dismissal letter, your contract, and a short written timeline of what happened, in order. A clear account of dates matters more in the room than a long explanation.
If your employer offers a number to settle, you do not have to answer on the spot. Knowing a realistic range for back wages and compensation beforehand keeps that decision yours, and moving to settlement and negotiation can sometimes end a case faster than a full hearing.
Conciliation is one stage inside the wider legal process that runs from your filing to a final decision, so treat it as a step to prepare for, not the end of the road either way.
If your conciliation date is already set, telling us when it is and what your employer has said so far helps us see where your case stands before you walk in.
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer at JPPM conciliation?
Not inside the meeting itself, since solicitors are not permitted to represent you there. Many people still speak with a lawyer beforehand, to understand what a reasonable settlement looks like and how to explain their case clearly on the day.
How many conciliation sessions will there be?
Most cases involve one or two sessions with the officer. Some settle at the first meeting, others need a second before either side agrees the file should move on. The officer decides when talks have reached their limit.
What if my employer does not show up?
The officer records that and your case still moves forward. A missed session by your employer does not weaken your claim, and it becomes part of the record if the matter is later referred to the Industrial Court.
Can I settle for less than I think is fair just to end it?
You can, but you do not have to decide alone in the room. Understanding what a court might realistically award before you go in keeps the choice to settle informed, rather than rushed by pressure on the day.
Sources
- At conciliation before the Industrial Relations Department, solicitors are not permitted to represent either party inside the meeting itself. Mah Weng Kwai & Associates, Unfair Dismissal
- Since the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2020 came into force on 1 January 2021, the Director General refers a case that does not settle at conciliation directly to the Industrial Court. MECA, Industrial Relations Act 1967 Guide
- An employee who considers they were dismissed without just cause or excuse may make a written representation to the Director General of Industrial Relations within 60 days of the dismissal, and this filing is what brings a case to conciliation. Mah Weng Kwai & Associates, Unfair Dismissal
Keep reading
If your conciliation date is already set, telling us when it is and what your employer has said so far helps us see where your case stands before you walk in.