Section 1: Appointment of the mediator.

The mediation procedure may be initiated by the chairman of the conciliation commission who, in this case, invites the parties to appoint a mediator within a specified period in order to promote an amicable settlement of the collective dispute. This procedure may also be initiated by the administrative authority at the reasoned written request of one of the parties or on its own initiative.

Where the parties fail to agree on the appointment of a mediator, the latter shall be chosen by the administrative authority from a list of persons appointed on the basis of their moral authority and their economic and social expertise.

The lists of mediators are drawn up after consultation and examination of the suggestions of the representative employers’ and employees’ trade unions at national level, sitting on the National Commission for Collective Bargaining.