The Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes is introducing quality management into its work, through the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) model.

The main goal for the introduction of quality management is to strive for continuous increase of efficiency, effectiveness and economy of work processes, constant monitoring, evaluation and improvement of service quality, management and dynamics of the Agency operations.

The introduction of quality management aims to improve the work of the Agency and achieve excellence in all processes, especially in improving services for citizens, because it helps to increase the quality of services for customers and thus their satisfaction.

The introduction of quality management is based on the "Agreement on the implementation of the CAF quality management model" signed on 28 January 2022 by Marija Obradović, Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government and Dr Ivica Lazović, Agency Director. On the basis of this agreement, in the process of implementing the CAF quality management model, the Agency will be provided with professional and technical support by the MDULS Support The team and consultants of the EU project entitled "Support to Public Administration Reforms within the Sectoral Reform Agreement for Public Administration Reform Sector".

It is planned to implement the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) from February to August 2022 in six phases.

With the implementation of the CAF quality management model, the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes ranks among the leaders in the Republic of Serbia among the institutions that have opted for the introduction of this model in public administration applied in more than 50 countries, including all EU member states.

You can find more about CAF at the following link https://caf.mduls.gov.rs/

The Serbian Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes participated at the training for conciliators and arbitrator run by the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, a public institution of the Republic of Srpska, which was held in the period from February 9-11, 2022.

The Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes of the Republic of Srpska organized a specialist training dedicated to the application of the new Law on Protection from Harassment at the Workplace and its implementation in practice. Bearing in mind the scope of work of the Serbian Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes and experience in settlement of cases of abuse at the workplace accumulated over a decade, this opportunity to share experiences with conciliators and arbitrators in the Republic of Srpska was welcome.

The professional advancement training was open by Velibor Mikać, Director of the Public Institution Agency. Maria José Chamorro (formalization and gender equality expert), Ada Huibregtse (chief technical adviser, Employment and Social Affairs Platform), and Angela Du Plessis (mediator) participated on behalf of the International Labor Organization. Milorad Mitrović and prof. Dr Rajko Kličković from the Ministry of Labor and Veterans Disability Protection of the Republic of Srpska addressed the audience and so did Radmila Puzić from the Labor Inspection. Representatives of the Trade Union Association of the Republic of Srpska and Employers Association of the Republic of Srpska were also among the speakers.

The issues relating to labor dispute settlement in the Republic of Serbia and the Law on Protection from Harassment at the Workplace were discussed by Ivica Lazović, the Serbian Agency Director, while the topic of harassment and abuse at the workplace and experience from practice were presented by Dejana Spasojevic Ivančić, a conciliator and arbitrator.

At the "Kragujevac" PHC in Kragujevac parties in dispute resorted to mediation by the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes and came to a common recommendation on how to settle the collective labor dispute, which was unanimously adopted and signed by the Conciliation Board.

The procedure before the Agency was conducted on the occasion of implementation of the Special Collective Agreement. The procedure was initiated according to the Proposal of the "Kragujevac" PHS Trade Union Organization and Serbian Association of Trade Unions for the initiation of procedure for peaceful settlement of the collective labor dispute. The employer, "Kragujevac" PHC, agreed to settle the dispute peacefully before the Agency. Katarina Nikolić was the appointed conciliator. A conciliation committee was set up in accordance with the law, including representatives of the parties in dispute and the appointed conciliator. After three discussions, the common recommendation was agreed on recommending the way to settle the disputed issue.

The employer and employees of the "Kragujevac" PHC in Kragujevac complied with the recommendation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and in the process of peaceful settlement of the dispute gave an example of readiness for the social dialogue, aiming to find sustainable solutions for all controversial issues in line with the law.

Within the project “Employment and Social Affairs Platform” on January 31, 2022 the International Labor Organization organized the first online meeting of the regional agencies for peaceful settlement of labor disputes to discuss implementation of methodology and tools for performance measurement of peaceful settlement of labor disputes. This methodology has two basic goals, and that is an increasing use of the system for peaceful settlement of labor disputes by workers, employers and their organizations as the primary objective and increasing effectiveness of the system for peaceful settlement of labor disputes as the second objective.

The meeting was attended by Ada Huibregtse, ILO chief technical advisor, Kristina Miheš, senior specialist for social dialogue and labor law, Jovan Protić, ILO national coordinator, Attila Kun, head of Department for Labor Law and Social Insurance at the Karoli Gapar University in Budapest, Zdenka Burzan from the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes of Montenegro, Jovana Borjan from the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Vladimir Bijadijev from the National Institute for Conciliation and Arbitration (Bulgaria), Lulјeta Krasta from the Ministry of Social Protection and Youth of Albania, as well as representatives of representative social partners in the region, ILO experts and project experts.

The Serbian Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes was represented by Dr Ivica Lazović, the Agency Director, prof. Dr. Senad Jašarević, Agency conciliator, and Dragana Andonovska, head of the Legal Affairs Unit in the Agency.

Relevant experiences, information and examples of good practices were shared at the meeting, and further forms of improvement of cooperation within the regional network for labor dispute settlement agreed.

The Serbian Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes has enacted the special 2022 Program for Advanced Training of Conciliator and Arbitrators.

The advanced training program aims at continuous promotion of skills and knowledge as well as harmonization of practice of conciliators and arbitrators in the field of peaceful settlement of labor disputes, which is an important prerequisite for further development of the concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes in practice, and thus effective labor law protection in the Republic of Serbia.

With this Program two training courses for conciliators and arbitrator are planned as well as some special individual trainings. In addition to these trainings, the Agency will try to organize more courses with expert support of the International Labor Organizations (ILO) and citizens associations.

Click on the LINK to download the 2022 Special Program for advanced training of conciliators and arbitrators.

A delegation from the Republic of Srpska and the Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes from Banja Luka visited the Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes. The delegation from the Republic of Srpska included Velibor Mikač, the director of the Agency for the peaceful settlement of labor disputes, and Jovana Borjan Lazuta, a senior expert associate for the peaceful settlement of labor disputes.

The meeting was focused on the cooperation of the Agencies, sharing of experiences and good practices, especially in the field of protection against harassment at work and mobbing. The reason for this is that the Law on Prevention of Harassment at Work was recently adopted in the Republic of Srpska, while in the Republic of Serbia we already have over ten years of experience in this matter.

Also, the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes used the opportunity to introduce a colleague from the Republic of Srpska as a pioneer in the implementation of the IT system for conducting the proceedings, and he presented the functionalities and advantages of using it.

Mikač and Lazović agreed that the continuation and deepening of already successful long-term cooperation is in the interest of both Agencies as well as the citizens of the Republic of Serbia and Republic of Srpska.

In order to further develop the relations between the Agencies, an agreement was reached on the need to run joint trainings, organize round tables, conferences and periodic meetings in the oncoming period, as the opportunities to discuss relevant practices and all current topics in the common field of work.

On 17 December, the final training for conciliators and arbitrators in 2021 was held, at which certificates from the International Labor Organization Training Center were presented to participants who attended the training from 6 to 8 October, as well as plaques for contributing to the development of a legal concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes.

The Republic Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes and the legal concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes are in constant development in our country, said the Agency Director Ivica Lazovic, emphasizing that we could be proud of the support of social partners, primarily the representative trade unions and employers, as well as the third party in the social dialogue, the Republic of Serbia, which contributed primarily through the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs. The plaques were presented to the president of the Association of Branch Trade Unions "Nezavisnost", Čedanka Andrić, the president of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia, Ljubisav Orbovic, and the president of the Association of Employers of Serbia, Miloš Nenezić. The presentation of the plaque was also planned for the Minister of Labor, Professor Dr. Darija Kisić Tepavčević, who was prevented from attending the gathering, so that the plaque would be presented to her at a later date. The state secretary Dr. Stana Božović addressed the audience and on behalf of Professor Kisić Tepavčević. She greeted the participants and emphasized the importance of the legal concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes as a great civilizational achievement.

Mr. Jovan Protić the national coordinator of the International Labor Organization spoke in the continuation of the training for conciliators and arbitrators, and after him, the first block of training was run by prof. Dr. Bojan Urdarević. An IDC representative, Milena Šoškić, informed the participants about the planned activities in the oncoming period. Aleksandra Stanković spoke about resolving conflicts from the psychological point of view, and the Constitutional Court Judge Lidija Đukić spoke about the latest case law.

In the process of peaceful settlement of collective labor dispute regarding the right of the trade union to have its representativeness recognized the by employer at the "Zlatibor" Special Hospitals for Thyroid Gland and Metabolic Diseases, which was initiated upon proposal of the “Sloga” Association of Trade Unions of Serbia - Trade Union of Health and Social Protection Services, the appointed conciliator, Milica Radivojević, issued a recommendation on how to settle the collective labor dispute.

The conciliator set up a Conciliation Committee in accordance with the law, composed of representatives of the parties in dispute. Mediated by the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, the disputed parties, hospital management and trade unions had three constructive discussions relating to the dispute relating to the right of the trade union to have its representativeness recognized by employer at the "Zlatibor" Special Hospitals for Thyroid Gland and Metabolic Diseases (Čigota). However, the consensus could not be reached by the disputed parties, and the employer, following provisions of the Law on Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, asked the conciliator to propose a recommendation. Accordingly, the conciliator issued a recommendation to the disputed parties, which provides an opportunity for settlement of the disputed issues, although it is not binding.

The Director of the Serbian Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, Dr Ivica Lazović visited main offices of major trade unions that frequently cooperate with the Agency – Confederation of Free Trade Unions (KSS), Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions (ASNS) and „Sloga“ Association of Serbian Trade Unions, in order to improve cooperation and discuss further activities. The talks were focused on elevation of the level of cooperation and promotion of the concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes among the trade union members. Possibilities for improvement and more intensive cooperation were discussed. The trade union main offices received the Agency promotional materials in order to spread information on options for protection of the rights before the Agency.

On 14 December a meeting was held at the premises of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions (KSS), with the President Ivica Cvetanović. On 15 December a meeting was held at the premises of the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions (ASNS) with the President Ranka Savić. A meeting with the „Sloga“ Association of Serbian Trade Unions and their President, Želјko Veselinović was held at the Association premises on 15 December in the presence of Predrag Đurić, President of the Health and Social Services Trade Union.

It was concluded that all trade unions significantly contributed to the development of the legal concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes, but that room for cooperation is still there to harmonize the labor law conceptualization in the Republic of Serbia .

The Director of the Serbian Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, Dr Ivica Lazović, was present at the 21st meeting of the Assembly of the Serbian Association of Employers (UPS) held on 10 December 2021. Mr Lazović addressed the attending members of the Association Assembly and reviewed the successful cooperation resulting from commitment of both Mr Atanacković, the previous Association president and Mr Miloš Nenezić, the current President. It was highlighted that there was room for improvement of the cooperation and all Association members were invited to use all resources offered by the Agency. He also thanked the Association members for their contribution to the development of the legal concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes.

On behalf of the Serbian Association of Employers the President, Miloš Nenezić awarded a Charter of the Serbian Association of Employers to Dr Ivica Lazović, Director of the Serbian Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes. The Assembly meeting was attended by a delegation of the Montenegrin Association of Employers. They were also awarded the UPS Charter as a token of years of friendship and cooperation.

On 9 December 2021 the Serbian Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes signed a Memorandum Understanding and Cooperation with the “Initiative for Development and Cooperation” citizen association on implementation of the project entitled „Joint Undertakings of Social Partners for Improvement of Visibility of Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes“, funded by the Olof Palme International Center in partnership with the „Nezavisnost“ (“Independence”) Association of Branch Trade Unions (UGS), Association of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS) and Serbian Association of Employers (UPS).

The project includes workshops on peaceful settlement of labor disputes in Novi Pazar, Pančevo, Zrenjanin and Vranje. Drawing up a policy brief on peaceful settlement of labor disputes is planned and so are presentation and distribution of electronic and printed versions of the document. One of the activities will be updating and promotion of the online course on peaceful settlement of labor disputes, organizing meetings aimed at raising awareness of the employees, employers and local decision makers on the concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes and importance of upgrading of the legislative framework for the peaceful settlement of labor disputes. Finally, the final press conference is planned in Belgrade for the presentation of the policy brief on peaceful settlement of labor disputes including all already implemented activities in the project the implementation of which will continue in the course of 2022.

On 8 December 2021 the Director of the Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, Dr Ivica Lazović visited representative trade unions in the Republic of Serbia - „Nezavisnost“ (“Independence”) Association of Branch Trade Unions (UGS) and Association of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS) in order to promote cooperation and discuss further activities. At separate meetings, promotion of the concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes was discussed among the trade union membership as beneficiaries of the Agency services. Experiences and cooperation so far were reviewed. Prospects for upgraded and more intensive cooperation and specialized training courses for the trade union members were also discussed. Distribution of the Agency promotional materials among the trade union membership was agreed on so that they can be better informed on the opportunities available to them in terms of protection of their rights before the Agency. Experience drawn from the cases brought before the Agency was analyzed and it was concluded that the practice so far was the best recommendation for further cooperation, but room for improvement was also identified.

The meeting with the newly elected president, Čedanka Andrić, was held at the premises of the „Nezavisnost“ UGS at Nušićeva 21, while the meeting with the SSSS president, Ljubisav Orbović, was held at the premises of this association at the Nikola Pašić Square.

It was concluded that contribution of representative trade unions in the development of legal concept of peaceful settlement of labor disputes was substantial, and that the Agency has remained the proper address for peaceful settlement of both collective and individual labor disputes taking into account interests of all three parties in the social dialogue – employees, employers and the Republic of Serbia.

At the „Trepča“ mining, metallurgic and chemical holding company in Zvečanu, in the process of peaceful resolution of a labor dispute on the issue of exercising the right to trade union organizaing and activities, initiated upon a request of the „Nezavisnost“ trade union of the „Trepča“ MMCH, the conciliator in charge, Prof Dr Aleksandar Antić passed a recommendation on how to resolve the collective labor dispute.

The conciliator set up a Conciliation Board with participation of parties in dispute. With mediation of the Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes, the company management and trade union had a constructive discussion on the issue under dispute. However, the management failed to attend the second hearing, and the „Nezavisnost“ trade union of the „Trepča“ MMCH required that the conciliator, in line with the law, pass a recommendation on how to resolve the dispute. The conciliator did pass a recommendation, following provisions of articles 206, 209 and 210 of the Labor Law, requiring to reexamine and review claims of the trade union representatives and to resolve all issues through further dialogue.

The Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes expresses its satisfaction that this form of labor dispute resolution has been recognized by social partners in the area of autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija and regrets that they failed stick to the dialogue to reach a common understanding of the parties in dispute on how to resolve the issue.

At the „Novosadska toplana“ PUC in Novi Sad, a procedure for peaceful resolution of a collective dispute was conducted on the issue of exercising the right to trade union organizing and activities. The procedure was initiated by the „Nezavisnost“ United Branch Trade Union of the „Novosadska toplana“ PUC.

Dr Jelena Gluščević was appointed the conciliator in charge and at the first hearing she set up a Conciliation Board with participation of parties in dispute and the appointed conciliator. Three hearings were held after which a joint recommendation was agreed on recommending the way to resolve the issue under dispute.

The disputed parties, assisted by the Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes mediation, signed a joint recommendation on the way to resolve the collective labor dispute, which was unanimously adopted by the Conciliation Board.

Once again, in line with the recommendation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the „Novosadska toplana“ PUC in Novi Sad resorted to the procedure of peaceful resolution of labor dispute to exemplify willingness for social dialogue in order to reach a dispute-resolving compromise.

A three-day annual Regional Conference of Network of Agencies for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes was held in Belgrade from 6 – 8 October 2021.

The Conference was attended by directors of agencies and other bodies for peaceful resolution of labor disputes, as well as arbiters and conciliators from Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Republic of Srpska (B&H), Hungary and Republic of Serbia.

The conference was officially open by the deputy minister for labor, employment, veterans and social affairs, Prof. Dr Sandra Grujičić, who pointed out that peaceful resolution of labor disputes applying the methods of conciliation and arbitrage is a huge civilization step forward and that the culture of dialogue, tolerance, compromise and understanding is a great value in itself in all areas of human labor, and in particular when the relationships among workers, employers and the state are concerned.

The Regional Conference gathered over 30 participants from the Western Balkan countries focusing the issue of promoting the institutions for peaceful resolution of labor disputes using benchmarking and comparison of achieved performance and case management systems.

The Director of the Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes, Dr Ivica Lazović, talked about the impact of the amendments to the Law on Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes and further needs for improvement, and also presented the benefits of the IT system for case management used only in our country.

The whole event was organized as a part of the Employment and Social Affairs Platform 2 (ESAP 2) that represents a three-year project funded by the European Union funds and implemented by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Regional Cooperation Council.

Among other things, through the ESAP 2 project, an International Labor Organization team provides the Western Balkan countries support in the promotion and development od the concept of peaceful resolution of labor disputes.

On 7 and 8 October 2021, as a part of the Regional Conference of Network of Agencies for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes two specialized one-day courses were held on “Skills for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes”.

The trainings were run by trainers of the International Training Center in Turin, Sylvain Baffi and Peter Harwood. Sylvain Baffi is an educator at the ILO International Training Center, while Peter Harwood was the chief conciliator of the British Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (acas.ogr.uk). Peter Harwood shared his years of experience with conciliators and arbiters in a discussion on the development of rapport and empathy, identification of obstacles, institutional stumbling blocks and sharing the best practices. A part of the training was dedicated to the work on overcoming prejudices and assumptions, as well as to the role of institutions in the work with parties and conciliators to effectively resolve disputes.

The training was interactive with group exercises and discussions on abundance of open issues and will be continued next years for all conciliators and arbiters of the Network of Agencies for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes.

From 6 to 8 October 2021 the Regional Conference of Network of Agencies for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes will be held in Belgrade, within the ESAP 2 (Employment and Social Affairs Platform) project of the International Labor Organization and European Commission. Countries from the broader region will participate (Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro, Republic of Srpska (B&H), Republic of North Macedonia, Albania and Hungary).

The Annual Regional Conference of Agencies for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes is the most important event in this field and represents a continuation of cooperation among countries that are signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding on Prevention and Resolution of Labor Disputes. Important issues will be discussed at the regional conference including the system for performance development of conciliators and arbitrators, the use of case management system and promotion of efficacy and prospects for further development.

Two specialone day training courses for conciliators and arbitrators will be held during the Conference on the skills required for labor dispute resolution. The trainings will be run by the International Training Center in Turin, which is an ILO specialized training center.

The importance of this conference lies in the fact that it is an event that gathers experts from the region and provides conditions for more intensive cooperation and direct sharing od relevant experiences, information and examples of good practice.

The XXIII International Seminar of the Society for Labor and Social Security Law was held on Zlatibor from 15 to 18 September 2021. The main topic was “Challenges of Modern Labor Legislation”. The Seminarwas open by Prof. Dr PredragJovanović, the Society President, Jovan Protić, representative of the International Labor Organization and Dr Ivica Lazović, Agency director, while Prof. Dr Darija Kisić Tepavčević as the first line minister visiting the seminar was a special guest at the opening.

Prof. Dr Kisić Tepavčević underlined that contribution of the Society for Labor and Social Security Law was very important for promotion of labor and social security rights, as substantiated by 23 years of tradition. She also expressed her full support to the Society activities. The Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs is prepared for all challenges relating to labor law, while cooperation with pertinent experts is of great importance for overcoming the challenges, highlighted Prof. Dr Kisić Tepavčević, the Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs. Prof. Dr Sandra Grujičić, assistant minister in the sector for labor and employment also participated in the proceedings of the International Seminar of the Society for Labor and Social Security Law.

Dr Ivica Lazović, the Agency Director,presented his paper on challenges faced by labor legislation in the area of peaceful resolution of labor disputes and accentuated the need to recognize options for peaceful resolution of labor disputes in new regulations that govern various areas relating to work, such as strikes or seasonal work. He also elaborated the possibilities for further promotion of the legal concept of peaceful resolution of labor disputes through amendments in the current legislative solutions in terms of introducing two level procedures, binding nature of the ruling and mediation as a method to resolve labor disputes.

The seminar topics comprised the whole body of labor lawthrough the lens of labor law concepts and practice in resolution of labor disputes (court and out of court methods). Presenters, moderators and other participants included local and international experts (labor law professors from our universities and prestigious universities in the region, eminent judges working in all judicial instances, experts focusing drafting of legal regulations and their implementation, representative trade unions, arbitrators and conciliators of the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, attorneys and others).

A collective labor dispute at the „SvetiLuka“ General Hospital in Smederevo was mediated by the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes and resolved by an agreement signed by all parties. The collective dispute was raised on the occasion of application of the Special Collective Agreement. PredragPlavkić was the assigned conciliator in this case.

After five hearings, a Recommendation was signed on the way to resolve the collective labor dispute. The Agreement on resolution of the collective labor dispute (to be integrated into the collective agreement) followed the Recommendation, so that all disputed issues were resolved. The employer at the „SvetiLuka“ General Hospital and participating trade unions („Sloga“ at the „SvetiLuka“ GH, Trade Union of Nurses and Medical Technicians at the„Sveti Luka“ GH, and Trade Union of Employees at Health and Social Service at the „Sveti Luka“ GH inSmederevo) have shown that social dialogue between employees and employer can result in proper solution, since they opted on peaceful resolution of dispute in line with recommendation of the Government of Serbia to resolve disputes peacefully.

At the „Infostan tehnologije“ PUC in Belgrade, in the procedure of peaceful resolution of a labor dispute relating to the right to organize and act through a trade union initiated upon proposal of the “Sloga” Trade Union at the „Infostan tehnologije“ PUC, Slađana Andrić, the assigned conciliator, passed a recommendation on how to resolve the collective labor dispute.

The conciliator set up a Conciliation Panel, according to the law, which is made up of representatives of parties in dispute. The procedure was mediated by the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes. The management and trade union held opposing positions on the issue at hand. After two hearings and summation of proposals on how to overcome the current situation,the parties asked the conciliator to recommend a possible resolution. The conciliator advised to examine and reconsider claims of the trade union and resolve the disputed issue peacefully through continued dialogue.

The procedure before the Agency was conducted over the right to organize and act through a trade union, which is, inter alia, granted by article 206 of the Labor Law. The parties in dispute are given the opportunity to reach a mutually acceptable solution through direct dialogue taking into account common interests.

On Tuesday, 13 June 2021, the Office of International Labor Organization in Budapest organized a Validation Workshop in Belgrade to compare legislation of the Republic of Serbia on elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work in line with provisions of ILO Convention 190. The Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes was involved in this event. Jovan Protić, the ILO national coordinator, Valentina Beghini, ILO senior technical advisor in Geneva, Cristina Mihes, ILO senior specialist for social dialogue in Budapest, and Prof. Dr BojanUrdarević,ILOexternal advisor and conciliator of the Agency talked about Convention 190 and violence and harassment in the world of work.

On 21 June 2019 the ILO adopted The Convention on Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work (# 190) and accompanying Recommendation (# 206). Adopted conventions are submitted to all ILO members for ratification, and recommendations are submitted for examination and application in the form of a national law or in some other way. Each state has discretionary power of ratification, i.e.to adopt the convention in full, conditionally or partially, refuse to ratify it or simply decide not to ratify it.

Presentations from the Workshop can be seen HERE and HERE.

At the „Kragujevac“ Emergency Medicine Institute peaceful resolution of a collective labor dispute ensued after the right to recognize representativeness of the trade union was questionedby the employer. The case was raised upon advice of the “Sloga” Association of Serbian Trade Unions – Trade Union of Health and Social Services. The assigned conciliator, Dr Aleksandar Antić, passed a recommendation on the way to resolve the collective dispute.

The conciliator set up a Conciliation Panel composed of representatives of parties in dispute,in line with the law. After two hearings mediated by the Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes, the parties, management and trade union still failed to agree on the common recommendation to resolve the collective dispute. Upon request of the trade union, the conciliator advised to continue the process of recognition of the trade union representativeness by the employer according to the law and resolve all disputed issues peacefully through social dialogue.

At the „Kragujevac“ Emergency Medicine Institute the trade union and management once again gave an example of good practice on how to resolve labor disputes peacefully. Let us remind you that in late 2020 in this Institute over 170 individual disputes on how remuneration was paid were peacefully resolved in the procedure before the Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes.Opting to resolve their disputes peacefully, the staff and management of the„Kragujevac“ Emergency Medicine Institute show their social responsibility in line with the Government recommendation that beneficiaries of public funds should resolve their disputes peacefully in order to reduce budgetary expenses in these procedures.

On 25 June 2021 Introductory Training was held for newly appointed conciliators and arbiters in compliance with the 2021 Program of Professional Development of Conciliators and Arbiters.

The training was held in the webinar format and divided into two segments. Segment 1 covered the conciliation procedures with case studies from the Agency practice run by Prof. Dr Bojan Urdarević, an experienced conciliator working for our Agency. Segment 2 covered the issues of arbitrage with practical examples. It was run by Dejana Spasojević Ivančić with years of experience in arbitration and conciliation cases in our Agency.

Although the interactive webinar was held in order to introduce newly elected conciliators and arbiters into the arbitration and conciliation procedures before the Agency, it will also be useful for other conciliators and arbiters as a forum for sharing relevant experiences and cases they encounter in practice.

You can access the webinar presentations by a click to the following links Mirenja and Arbitraže .

At the „Sremska Mitrovica“ General Hospital in Sremska Mitrovica, parties in dispute, with Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes as the mediator, drafted a joint recommendation on the mode of resolution of the collective labor dispute that was unanimously adopted and signed by the Conciliation Board.

The case was conducted before the Agency in order to exercise the right to establish a trade union representativeness by the employer. The procedure was initiated upon proposal to initiate a procedure for peaceful resolution of a collective dispute by the Trade Union of Nurses and Medical Technicians of Serbia for multiple employers, such as the Healthcare Center and General Hospital in Sremska Mitrovica. The Conciliation Board was set up in compliance with the Law combining representatives of disputed parties and Dejana Spasojević Ivančić in the capacity of the attending conciliator. After two hearings the joint recommendation was drafted on how to overcome and resolve the issue.

At the „Sremska Mitrovica“ General Hospital both the employees and employer entered the peaceful resolution of dispute procedure exemplifying willingness to participate in social dialogue in order to come up with sustainable solutions in line with the law.

At the JKP „Novosadska toplana“ in Novi Sad parties in dispute, with mediation of the Republic Agency for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes, draw a joint recommendation on the resolution of the collective labor dispute that was eventually unanimously adopted and signed by the Conciliation Board.

The procedure before the Agency was conducted for exercising the right to establish representativeness of the trade union at the Employer’s company. The procedure followed the proposal to initiate a procedure for peaceful resolution of labor dispute between the “Nezavisnost” (“Independence”) Trade Union and JKP „Novosadska toplana“. The Conciliation Board was set up in line with the law, including representatives of the disputed parties and Ružica Erceg as the attending conciliator. After two hearings joint recommendation was written advising on the way to overcome the disputed issue.

The employer and employees of the JKP „Novosadska toplana“ in Novi Sad followed recommendations of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and in this peaceful resolution of dispute gave an example of willingness to establish social dialogue in order to find sustainable solutions in line with regulations in force.