The delegation of the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes paid a study visit to the Swedish National Mediation Office in Stockholm on 4 December 2025. The visit was organised with the aim of becoming acquainted with the Swedish model of work, exchanging experiences, and highlighting good practices that may contribute to the further development of the Agency’s capacities, as well as to the improvement of the system of peaceful settlement of labour disputes in the Republic of Serbia. During the visit, the Director of the Agency, Dr Ivica Lazović, presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Swedish National Mediation Office as a token of recognition for the successful cooperation to date and for its support in the development of the practice of peaceful labour dispute resolution.

The Swedish National Mediation Office was selected as a partner due to its unique and highly successful experience in the field of labour dispute prevention, conciliation, collective bargaining, as well as its well-established model of tripartism and a high level of coordination among social partners.

The visit began with a meeting with the Director General of the Institute, Ms Irene Wennemo, and Legal Adviser Sofie Malmkvist, who presented the organisation, competencies, and key elements of the Swedish labour market model. The introductory session focused on the functioning of the labour dispute prevention system and conciliation mechanisms in cases where disputes arise, the importance of mediator independence, and the role of the Institute in maintaining stable industrial relations throughout the country.

The programme continued with a presentation by Mr Per Ewaldsson, Senior Legal Adviser, who provided a detailed overview of the legal framework for the peaceful settlement of labour disputes in Sweden. The discussion covered fundamental principles, the competencies of conciliators, and response mechanisms in cases of collective disputes, with reference to similarities and differences in comparison with the Serbian legal system.

Following the presentation of the legal framework, a session dedicated to practical examples was held, led by Ms Gunilla Runnquist, a conciliator with extensive professional experience, and Mr Per Ewaldsson. The delegation had the opportunity to become familiar with concrete procedures, the working methodology of Swedish conciliators, the challenges they face, communication techniques used in working with the parties to a dispute, and the tools applied in everyday practice.

Particular attention was drawn to the presentation on wage statistics, delivered by Mr John Ekberg, Director of Official Wage and Salary Statistics at the Institute, together with Statistician Mr Peter Beijron and Economist Mr Simon Thorstensson. The presentation covered existing statistical data, data collection and processing procedures, and the application of this information in collective bargaining processes, which is of particular importance when considering the enhancement of the Agency’s analytical capacities.

In the afternoon, a highly significant session was held on labour market organisation and collective agreements, which provided concrete guidance for possible improvements in the work of the Agency. Special emphasis was placed on the manner in which the Swedish National Mediation Office maintains comprehensive records of all collective agreements in the country, a practice that has proven to be a key instrument in supporting stable social dialogue and effective collective bargaining. Ms Anna Fransson, Senior Economist, together with Mr Thomas Ljunglöf and Ms Sofie Malmkvist, presented the role of the Institute in analysing collective agreements, mechanisms for monitoring collective agreements, and models that may serve as valuable reference points for strengthening institutional capacities in Serbia.

Members of the delegation included the Director of the Agency, Dr Ivica Lazović, who introduced the hosts to the Agency’s practice and organisational structure, Dragana Andonovska, Head of the Legal Affairs Unit, and Agency advisers Miloš Prokić and Jelena Golubović.

This study visit represents an important step in strengthening cooperation with Swedish institutions and provides a solid foundation for further enhancing the capacities of the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes. The experiences gained and practices exchanged will be of great importance for the continued development of labour dispute prevention systems, conciliation processes, and the promotion of a culture of social dialogue in the Republic of Serbia.

At the ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Public Institution Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes of Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska (BiH), held on Friday, 17 October 2025, the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes received a Certificate of Appreciation for the successful cooperation to date.

The Certificate was received on behalf of the Agency by its Director, Dr Ivica Lazović, who also had the honour of addressing the participants at the opening of the event. In addition to the representatives of the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes, the event in Banja Luka was attended by representatives of the Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes of Montenegro, the Minister of Labour and Veterans and Disabled Protection of the Republic of Srpska, Mr Danijel Egić, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Srpska, Mr Goran Selak, representatives of trade unions and employers, as well as numerous conciliators and arbitrators.

In his opening remarks, Dr Lazović emphasized the importance of continuous cooperation and exchange of experiences between the “sister” agencies from Serbia, the Republic of Srpska (BiH), and Montenegro. “Our institutions are organized according to the same model, with only minor differences in the regulatory framework, which means that the challenges we face are also similar,” he noted. “There is very close cooperation between our institutions on a daily basis, allowing us to learn from each other through consultations and the exchange of practices, and to perform our work in the most efficient way possible,” he added. Dr Lazović also underlined that networking of institutions dealing with the peaceful settlement of labour disputes at the Western Balkan and European levels is of great importance, reminding the audience of the experiences exchanged during this year’s international conferences held in Geneva and Leuven.

The event continued with a roundtable discussion attended by the Agency’s Director, Dr Ivica Lazović, Agency Advisors Mr Miloš Prokić and Ms Jelena Golubović, representatives of the agencies from Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (BiH), representatives of the relevant ministry, employers, trade unions, and conciliators and arbitrators from the Republic of Srpska (BiH). The participants discussed current challenges in implementing the mechanisms of peaceful settlement of labour disputes, exchanged practical experiences, and agreed on recommendations for further improvement.

The Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes participated in the XXVII International Scientific and Professional Conference of the Association for Labour Law and Social Security of the Republic of Serbia, held from 8 to 11 October 2025 at Zlatibor.

This year’s Conference brought together numerous distinguished experts in the field of labour law and social security from Serbia and the region, representatives of state institutions, trade unions, employers, academia, and international organizations, to discuss the topic “Labour Law in New Circumstances: Challenges and Solutions.”

At the ceremonial opening, the Director of the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes, Dr Ivica Lazović, welcomed the participants and expressed his satisfaction with the continuously growing number of attendees each year. In his opening remarks, he emphasized that changes in labour relations are both inevitable and constant, while the individual worker remains the one most exposed to pressure and challenges.

In addition to Dr Lazović, the participants were also addressed by Professor Dr Bojan Urdarević, President of the Association for Labour Law and Social Security, Professor Dr Živko Kulić, conciliator and arbitrator of the Agency, and Dr Jovan Protić, National Coordinator of the International Labour Organization in Belgrade.

In the working part of the Conference, Dr Ivica Lazović presented a paper titled “Transnationalization of Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes – a Challenge for the Future,” highlighting the importance of cross-border cooperation between institutions dealing with alternative labour dispute resolution, as well as the need to improve these practices in line with European standards and new conditions in which labour relations are developing.

The Agency also actively participated in a roundtable discussion entitled “Resolution of Individual and Collective Labour Disputes,” which brought together judges, professors, conciliators, and arbitrators to address current challenges in practice and propose improvements to peaceful dispute resolution procedures.

During the panel “The State of Social Dialogue and Collective Bargaining in Serbia,” the Agency’s Director, Dr Ivica Lazović, emphasized the need to strengthen social dialogue, stressing that social partners must actively cooperate and that the Agency is always ready to provide expert support. At the panel “Labour Legislation in the Function of Sustainable Business and Economic Growth,” which gathered representatives of employers and the Agency, Dr Lazović spoke about the necessity for the private sector to increasingly resort to peaceful methods of resolving labour disputes.

Throughout the three-day Conference, numerous topics of importance for labour legislation were discussed — from the new Labour Law and the state of social dialogue in Serbia to challenges in exercising the right to strike, the status of freelancers, flexible forms of work, workers’ rights on digital platforms, and the impact of artificial intelligence on labour relations.

It was concluded that such gatherings are of exceptional importance for the exchange of knowledge and experience and for creating an environment in which labour law reforms will be based on a balance between economic efficiency and social justice.

The Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes of Montenegro marked its 15th anniversary with a ceremony held on 1 October 2025 in Podgorica, attended by guests from the region, representatives of institutions, social partners, as well as conciliators and arbitrators.

During the ceremony, the Director of the Agency, Enesa Rastoder, presented plaques of appreciation to individuals who have contributed through their engagement to the improvement of the system of peaceful settlement of labour disputes in Montenegro.

One of the recipients of the award was Dr Ivica Lazović, Director of the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes, who on that occasion highlighted that peaceful settlement of labour disputes is gaining increasing importance globally. He emphasized that the countries of the former Yugoslavia share similar legal systems, practices, and challenges, which makes cooperation between Serbia, Montenegro, and the Republic of Srpska particularly valuable.

As part of this important event, the regular annual training for conciliators and arbitrators of Montenegro was also held. The lectures were delivered by Professor Dr Bojan Urdarević and Professor Dr Senad Jašarević, long-standing conciliators and arbitrators of the Republic Agency. They shared with their colleagues both academic and practical experiences in the field of labour disputes.

Director Dr Ivica Lazović also presented to the participants the conclusions from the Tripartite Technical Meeting “Access to Justice in Labour Matters: Prevention and Resolution of Labour Disputes”, held earlier this year in Geneva, which represents a milestone in international efforts aimed at preventing labour disputes.

The event reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation, given that the countries of the former Yugoslavia are linked by similar legal systems, practices, and challenges in their work. At the same time, it highlighted the importance of continuous education of conciliators and arbitrators as a prerequisite for further development of peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms, with the goal of strengthening social dialogue and ensuring stable labour relations.

With the conciliation of the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, the strike at Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services – SMATSA d.o.o. Belgrade was successfully brought to an end. The Agency had been informed by SMATSA that the Air Traffic Controllers’ Union had announced a strike, and given the nature of the employer’s activities, the procedure was, in accordance with the Law, initiated ex officio.

Miljko Valjarević was appointed as the acting conciliator. At the very first hearing, a Conciliation Board was formed, comprising representatives of both parties and the conciliator. Through a series of hearings, in an atmosphere of dialogue and with the support of the conciliator, the parties gradually narrowed their differences and reached a compromise solution. As a result, a Joint Recommendation was signed, specifying the ways in which the disputed issues would be resolved.

This case once again confirmed that proceedings before the Agency enable the quick, efficient, and institutional resolution of labor disputes, ensuring stability and the uninterrupted functioning of services of vital public interest.

Through the mediation of the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, a collective labor dispute at the frozen food company Frikom d.o.o. was successfully resolved. The dispute was initiated ex officio, in accordance with the Law, following the strike announcement by the Independent Trade Union of Frikom.

Bojana Stanić was appointed as the acting conciliator. At the very first hearing, she formed a Conciliation Board composed of representatives of both parties and the conciliator herself. A total of five hearings were held, during which the parties demonstrated a willingness to overcome their disagreements and bring their positions closer together.

The procedure was concluded with the signing of a Joint Recommendation on the peaceful settlement of the collective labor dispute, which set out in detail the ways in which the dispute would be resolved.

The employer and employees of Frikom d.o.o. thus provided an example of readiness for social dialogue, all with the aim of finding compromise solutions through the process of peaceful dispute resolution.