Procedures
What to actually do, in order
Each procedure sets out who may file, the deadline that ends your right to act, every document you must produce, the realistic timeline and cost, and the specific pitfalls that cause cases to fail on technicalities.
- FranceEmploymentintermediate
Bring a claim before the Conseil de prud'hommes
France's specialist labour court hears individual employment disputes with elected employer and employee judges sitting together.
7 steps 12-18 months including the conciliation phase No court fee; lawyer optional but common - United KingdomEmploymentintermediate
Bring an unfair dismissal claim in the UK
Challenge a dismissal at the Employment Tribunal. Acas early conciliation is a compulsory first step and the deadline is unforgiving.
9 steps 6-12 months to final hearing No tribunal fee; representation optional - NetherlandsEmploymentintermediate
Dismiss an employee lawfully in the Netherlands
Dutch law does not allow an employer to dismiss at will. Depending on the reason, permission must be sought from the UWV (economic grounds or long-term illness) or the subdistrict court (personal or performance grounds), and a statutory transition payment is normally owed.
6 steps UWV route around 4-6 weeks; court route roughly 1-3 months No UWV fee; court fee for the kanton route; transition payment owed to the employee - BrazilEmploymentintermediate
File a labour claim in Brazil
Brazil's specialist labour courts hear employment claims with a mandatory conciliation hearing and, for lower-value claims, a simplified procedure.
7 steps 8-18 months at first instance No fee for claimants earning below the threshold; lawyer required except in the simplified track - United Arab EmiratesEmploymentbeginner
File a labour complaint with MOHRE in the UAE
MOHRE handles private-sector employment complaints and attempts amicable settlement before any referral to the labour court.
7 steps 2-8 weeks at the MOHRE stage Free at MOHRE; court fees waived for claims under AED 100,000 - South AfricaEmploymentbeginner
Refer an unfair dismissal dispute to the CCMA
The CCMA provides free conciliation and arbitration for dismissal disputes. Most cases never reach the Labour Court.
7 steps 30-90 days to arbitration award Free - JapanEmploymentintermediate
Use the labour tribunal (rΕdΕ shinpan) in Japan
A three-session procedure before a judge and two lay members that resolves individual employment disputes far faster than ordinary litigation.
6 steps About three months, typically three hearings Court fees scaled to claim value; roughly half of ordinary litigation