After receiving a petition for an opinion, the CGB will decide whether it is authorised to investigate the case.
If the CGB is authorised, it will start an investigation. The CGB will question both parties (the person that files the petition and the person or organisation that is accused of unequal treatment) and will give them the opportunity to respond to each other's points of view. The CGB can also obtain information from ‘third parties’ (witnesses for example).
Once the CGB has collected enough information, it will close the investigation and hold a hearing. The hearing usually lasts about one hour. Both parties can testify and bring an expert along. The CGB will ask questions and compare the different points of view.
After the hearing, the CGB will discuss the case in a closed meeting. Within eight weeks after the hearing it will decide whether the equal treatment law has been violated. The CGB's opinion is important, but not legally enforceable. That means that the CGB cannot force the party that is guilty of unequal treatment to comply with its opinion. However, in practice, the CGB's opinions are usually complied with.
The CGB tries to strengthen the impact of its work by actively following up on its opinions. It may for example talk to representatives of the branch of industry in which the unequal treatment occurred. In this manner, the CGB hopes to prevent similar unequal treatment in the future.
Booklet Dutch Equal Treatment Commission