JPPM or the Labour Office?
You are not sure where to take your complaint and do not want to lose time.
What is the difference between JPPM and the Labour Office?
They handle different disputes, and mixing them up wastes time. A representation about unfair dismissal under Section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act goes to the Industrial Relations Department (JPPM), within 60 days of the dismissal date.1
The Labour Office usually handles other disputes, such as unpaid wages, overtime or other entitlements under the Employment Act. These are two laws answering two questions.
Why does it matter which one you choose?
Filing with the wrong body can cost time you do not have. If your complaint is that you were dismissed without just cause, JPPM is the right body, and once conciliation begins a lawyer cannot represent you in the room.2
If your complaint is unpaid wages, overtime or other entitlements, the Labour Office is usually the better route. When both problems exist, both routes can run side by side.
How do you work out which one applies?
Write your core complaint in one sentence: are you complaining about being dismissed, or about money you were not paid? If a dismissal and unpaid wages happened together, separate them on paper, because the two can feel like one grievance.
A short summary of each issue helps whichever body you approach. It also lets you track two separate timelines if both routes apply.
What can you do next?
Read about what happens at a JPPM conciliation session if your issue is the dismissal. Confirm your deadline with the deadline calculator whichever body applies.
If you want a lawyer to act, an employment lawyer can tell you which route fits and lodge the claim in the right place if you have grounds.
You are unsure which body your dismissal complaint belongs with. An independent employment lawyer can review your facts and lodge the claim in the right place if you have grounds.
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
First contact: general facts only, such as date, location, employment status and a short summary. Keep documents private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.
Common questions
Which body do I go to for an unfair dismissal claim?
An unfair dismissal representation under Section 20 goes to the Industrial Relations Department (JPPM). The Labour Office handles different kinds of disputes.
Which body handles unpaid wages or EPF issues?
Disputes over statutory entitlements such as unpaid wages, overtime or contributions usually go through the Labour Office, not JPPM. They fall under the Employment Act, not the Industrial Relations Act.
Can I have a claim at both bodies at the same time?
Yes. Some situations involve both a dismissal question and a separate unpaid-entitlements question, and each can run through its own body at the same time.
What if I am not sure which body applies to my situation?
That confusion is common, so clarify early instead of filing in the wrong place and losing time. An employment lawyer can quickly identify which route fits your facts.
Sources
- A worker has 60 days from the dismissal date to lodge a written representation with the Director General of Industrial Relations. Mah Weng Kwai & Associates
- Solicitors are not permitted to represent parties during conciliation at the Industrial Relations Department. Mah Weng Kwai & Associates
Keep reading
You are unsure which body your dismissal complaint belongs with. An independent employment lawyer can review your facts and lodge the claim in the right place if you have grounds.
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
First contact: general facts only, such as date, location, employment status and a short summary. Keep documents private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.