first hearing if that occurs earlier, unless the facts
on which the objection is based are unknown to the party at that time.
(3) The Commission may on its own initiative consider,
at any stage of the proceeding, whether the dispute before it is within its competence.
(4) Upon the formal raising of an objection, the
proceeding on the merits shall be suspended. The Commission may deal with the objection as
a preliminary question or join it to the merits of the dispute. If the Commission
overrules the objection or joins it to the merits, the proceedings on the merits shall be
resumed. If the Commission decides that the dispute is not within its competence, it shall
close the proceeding and draw up a report to that effect, in which it shall state its
reasons.
Article 41
Closure of the Proceeding
(1) If one party fails to appear or participate in the
proceeding, the Commission shall, after notice to the parties, close the proceeding and
draw up its report noting the reference of the dispute to conciliation and recording the
failure of that party to appear or participate.
(2) If at any stage of the proceeding it appears to the
Commission that there is no likelihood of settlement between the parties, the Commission
shall, after notice to the parties, close the proceeding and draw up its report noting the
reference of the dispute to conciliation and recording the failure of the parties to reach
a settlement.
(3) If the parties reach agreement on the issues in
dispute, the Commission shall close the proceeding and draw up its report noting the
issues in dispute and recording that the parties have reached agreement. At the request of
the parties, the report shall record the detailed terms and conditions of their agreement.
(4) Except as the parties otherwise agree, neither party
to a conciliation proceeding may in any other proceeding before arbitrators, courts or
otherwise invoke or rely on any views expressed or statements or admissions or offers of
settlement made by the other party in the conciliation proceeding, or the report or any
recommendations made by the Commission.
Article 42
The Report
(1) The report of the Commission shall be drawn up and
signed as soon as possible after the closure of the proceeding. It shall contain, in
addition to the material specified in Article 41 of these Rules, as appropriate:
(a) a precise designation of each party;
(b) a description of the method of its constitution;