When a referral is made to the mediator by one of the parties, he shall inform the other parties, by letter delivered against signature or by any other means capable of establishing proof of the date of receipt of the referral, within eight days of receipt of the referral. The parties then have a period of thirty working days to send their observations to the mediator and to the claimant by any means capable of establishing proof of the date of receipt. This period may be extended by the mediator for no more than the same length of time.
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