22. 10. 2016.

The Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes participated in a regional conference on the theme: ”Effective Mechanisms of Labour Dispute Resolution” and in the First annual meeting of the regional networks of agencies for the peaceful settlement of labour disputes organized by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and with the support of the European Union, which was held in Ohrid from 17th to 21st October 2016.Apart from the representatives and experts of the ILO, the conference was also attended by representatives of ministries of labour and employment, representative social partners (trade unions and employers’ organizations) and the Agencies for Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes from the region: Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia (Republic of Srpska, the Federation and Brčko District), Montenegro and Albania, as well as representatives of the EU member states – Ireland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.The delegation of the Republic of Serbia was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, representative trade unions, the Union of Employers of Serbia and the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes.During this period, an overview of policy of participating countries in this area was presented; the experiences in the operation of the national agencies for the peaceful settlement of labour disputes were discussed, and a global survey conducted within the ILO on the topic of resolving individual labour disputes was presented.On examples of practice in Ireland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, participants noted some problems and obstacles to greater and more effective inclusion of mediation, conciliation and arbitration in the settlement of labour disputes, with the aim to reduce the workload of courts, and the costs of shortening the process of settlement of labour disputes, which is in the interest of both employees and employers.The assessment of the situation in the field of labour disputes in the Republic of Serbia was given, as well as the normative framework for the functioning of the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes, achievements and observed problems and deficiencies. Special importance was given to the role of social dialogue, i.e. representative social partners in design and implementation of the policy of peaceful settlement of labour disputes.At the end of the meeting the brochure “Practical Guide of the ILO for Professional Mediators” was promoted and its copies will be available to all mediators and arbitrators of the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes.