Ad hoc mediators and
regional mediators
Ad hoc mediators
The National Mediation Office appoints mediators in the event of a dispute between the parties in the labour market (the ‘social partners’) during bargaining over pay and terms of employment. Nowadays, management and labour negotiate at national association level.
Mediators are expected to keep abreast of the economic situation in the country. Their taks is to ensure that the social partners reach agreement and thereby preserve industrial peace. But this is not to be achieved at any price mediators are also required to strive for agreements that are compatible with an efficient wage formation process.
Mediators are appointed for each individual dispute.
Regional mediators
The National Mediation Office has five regional mediators at its disposal. They are called in when local disputes occur at company level. A typical conflict at this level involves a company refusing to sign a collecitive agreement with a union organisation.
Regional mediators are attached to the National Mediation Office for 12 months at a time and carry out mediation assignments in addition to their regular employment. Several of them are district court judges.