18. 05. 2023.

In order to raise and strengthen the capacities of conciliators, arbitrators and the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, a three-day training session was held at the Omorika Hotel on Tara, in the period from 14 to 17 May 2023. This is the largest training organized so far and the first outside Belgrade, and it was held owing to the support of the International Labor Organization (ILO) within the project that is part of the "Initiative for Global Solidarity" of the German Development Cooperation, which is implemented by the German Organization for International Cooperation, GIZ.

Over 70 participants, conciliators, arbitrators, employees of the Agency, as well as directors and guests from the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes from Montenegro and the Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes from the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) attended the training with the largest number of participants since the establishment of the Agency.

On the first day, the training entitled "Communication in third-party conflict resolution" was held, conducted by the "H.art" center, on the second day, the training on "International perspective of industrial disputes and peaceful resolution of labor disputes for conciliators and arbitrators - the example of Germany" was held, run by Michael Drier, and on the third day, the training entitled "Raising visibility through direct communication and media" was held, led by Andre Brbaklić, an expert in public relations. Participants had the opportunity to improve their communication skills through interactive training and coaching that included simulations of a real environment and active work in groups so that they can identify opportunities for increasing the visibility of the concept of peaceful resolution of labor disputes in the private sector. Through these trainings, conciliators and arbitrators got the tools that enable them to resolve conflicts arising from labor disputes in a faster and more efficient manner. At the same time, they improved their skills in application of the methods that can help them to be recognized as those who can help employees and employers, in the communities they come from, to resolve disputes out of court.

On the second day of the training, Michael Drier, a lawyer from Hamburg, specialized in collective mediation and negotiation in complex disputes between social partners, introduced all those present to the history and methods of collective bargaining, the conflict resolution system and the complaint resolution system in Germany. A special segment was dedicated to raising the capacity of the Agency for the implementation of the new Law on Due Diligence in Supply Chains and the importance of this regulation for the private sector in Serbia.

This training resulted in more useful conclusions that will improve the capacity of the Agency as well as its conciliators and arbiters for the approach and settlement of labor disputes in the private sector.