In many OECD countries such bodies have the necessary investigative powers to help workers gather the evidence needed to bring their case before the courts.31 However, equality bodies are generally not empowered to offer legal representation to plaintiffs, with the result that lodging complaints with courts may remain overly expensive for a large share of workers. In emerging economies, this may be particularly important, as a larger share of the population may lack the necessary resources to sustain the costs of a trial.32 TYade unions and other bodies of worker representation can play an important role in this respect by providing counselling and legal assistance. As such procedures typically do not require professional legal representation, they are less costly for both parties. They can also be less expensive for the public purse, as they help resolve disputes more swiftly without engaging the courts.