Joint Advisory Appeals Board (JAAB)

The Joint Advisory Appeals Board (JAAB) was established pursuant to Article 10.5 of the Staff Regulations as part of an effective internal dispute resolution mechanism in order to guarantee the right of ILO staff members to an effective internal appeal if they consider that they have been treated in a manner incompatible with their terms and conditions of employment.

The JAAB’s role is to advise the Director-General as to the merits of the grievances submitted to it and assist him in taking a final decision, based on an examination of the relevant facts and documents, having regard to the official's contract of employment and in accordance with the Staff Regulations, generally recognized principles of international administrative law, existing collective agreements, and other rules governing the terms and conditions of employment.

Composition

The JAAB is a body of peers, composed of

• at least three Chairpersons appointed by the Director-General on the recommendation of the Joint Negotiating Committee ; and
• two groups of members, who must be serving officials, appointed by the Office and the ILO Staff Union Committee respectively, acting on a voluntary basis.

The list and biography of the current members of the JAAB can be found hereinafter :

• Current JAAB composition 
• JAAB members and chairpersons’ Biopage 

The JAAB is assited by a Secretariat which comprises an Executive Secretary and an Administrative Assistant.

Procedure

The procedure before the JAAB is formal and confidential. It is governed by the provisions of Annex IV  to the Staff Regulations. 

• JAAB Working Methods 
• Collective Agreement on Conflict Prevention and Resolution between the International Labour Office and the ILO Staff Union of 24 February 2004 

Type of grievances

The different ways available to staff to settle a dispute formally are the following:

• General grievances
• Harassment grievances
• Special grievances

A grievance will be deemed to be a general grievance if it is neither a harassment grievance, nor a special grievance. 
 

Submission of grievance

Any official filing a grievance before the JAAB is usually referred to as an “appellant".

All grievances must be submitted to the JAAB Secretariat preferably by sending a scanned copy to JAAB@ilo.org . It can also be hand-delivered to the JAAB Secretariat (R2-145) or sent by post in a sealed envelope.

Officials are required to use a form to file an appeal duly dated and signed, along with any document that is directly relevant to the case, clear and concise, and in a format that is legible and easy to understand. The form to file an appeal is available in the three ILO working languages, thereinafter :

• Form for the filing of a grievance 
• Formulaire pour le dépôt d’une réclamation 
• Formulario para la presentación de una reclamación 

Examination of grievance

Each grievance is examined by a panel composed of a chairperson and two members, one from each group.
The chairpersons and members of the JAAB shall be independent in the exercise of their functions.