What Mediation in a Labour Dispute Means
Mediation of an employment dispute is an institution defined by the Georgian Labour Code that exists precisely on the collective track. Under Article 63 of the Code, a collective dispute — a dispute between an employer and a group of employees (not fewer than 20 employees) or between an employer and an employees' association — must be resolved through conciliation procedures between the parties, meaning direct negotiations or mediation where one of the parties sends the relevant written notice to the Minister.
Mediation may be commenced at any stage of the negotiations: a party may send the Minister written notice aimed at reaching agreement and appointing a dispute mediator, and that notice is transmitted to the other party the same day. On the basis of the application the Minister appoints a dispute mediator in accordance with the rule approved by a normative act of the Government of Georgia, and in cases of high public interest may even do so on the Minister's own initiative.