Preventive Mediation Program

Three high level officers of the Labor Relations from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MTEySS) of Argentina visited the Ministry of Human Resources & Skills Development (HRSDC) of Canada with the objective of learning from the Canadian experience on dispute and conflict resolution.  
 
In words of the Argentinean delegates the information obtained during the visit was “highly significant” , and they especially highlighted the techniques and tools for mediation and dispute resolution, the services and products that HRSDC provides to employers and trade unions to promote more cooperative relations, the contents and techniques of continuing training for mediators and conciliators, and the federal and provincial regulatory framework on the right to strike and minimum services maintenance in essential activities.
 
The Canadian Preventive Mediation Program turned out to of particular interest for the Argentinean delegates. This Program provides consultancies and training to employers and workers, upon their own request, on bargaining and dispute resolution, among others. Its goal is to encourage constructive labor relations and resolve differences in the workplace before they reach higher judiciary or administrative instances.
 
Among the next steps, the Argentinean delegates expressed that the knowledge obtained in Canada will be applied to improve and extent the tools that are currently developed in dispute resolution and collective bargaining. The delegates highlighted that they will evaluate the future design and implementation of specific services of dispute resolution addressed to employers and trade unions, under the outline of the Canadian Preventive Mediation Program.
Finally, the delegates pointed out that this cooperation activity widely accomplished the proposed objectives and the personal and institutional expectations. Furthermore, they mentioned that will be maintaining contact with HRSDC to strengthen this technical assistance.