Find which office handles your complaint
See whether your dismissal or your unpaid pay leads first.
The core question
Ask yourself one thing first. Is your main complaint that you lost your job unfairly, or that your employer owes you money they never paid?
If the answer is losing your job, your route is the Department of Industrial Relations, known as JPPM. That route runs through a Section 20 representation.
If the answer is unpaid salary, overtime or annual leave while your employment continued or ended cleanly, your route is the Labour Office, known as JTKSM.
What JPPM handles
JPPM handles representations from workers who believe they were dismissed without just cause or excuse. This covers the full Section 20 process, including conciliation.
Conciliation happens with both sides present. Lawyers cannot attend on your behalf at that stage.1
Bring your termination letter, employment contract, payslips and any evidence of the dismissal circumstances.
What the Labour Office handles
The Labour Office handles claims for unpaid wages, overtime, unpaid annual leave and similar monetary matters under the Employment Act.
Bring your payslips, employment contract, and a clear calculation of what you believe is owed. Note the period it covers.
What to do with your result
Write down which office fits your main complaint, and if both issues apply to you, note that you may need to file with each one separately.
Check the deadline calculator if any part of your issue involves a dismissal, since the sixty day window applies regardless of which office you also approach.
Read more about JPPM conciliation before your appointment so the process is familiar.
How a lawyer helps from here
A lawyer can confirm which office or offices fit your facts, help you prepare your documents and figures beforehand, and brief you fully for conciliation since they cannot sit in the room with you at that stage.
Common questions
Can I file with both offices at the same time?
Yes, if your case genuinely involves both an unfair dismissal and unpaid statutory money, such as unpaid salary or annual leave, these are separate processes and can run alongside each other without conflict.
Can my lawyer speak for me at conciliation?
Solicitors are not permitted to represent parties at the conciliation stage itself, so you attend in person. A lawyer can still prepare you fully beforehand and advise you on what comes after.
Keep reading
Once you know which office fits, a short message lets a lawyer help you prepare what to bring and what to expect.