Lao Cai promulgates new regulations on mediation of labor disputes

On October 7th, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee issued a notice on the Regulation on management of labor mediators in the area.

Regulations on standards, procedures for appointment and dismissal; tasks, powers, and obligations of mediators; the appointment of mediators and the process of mediating labor disputes, disputes over vocational training contracts, and at the same time supporting the development of labor relations.

According to regulations, the Department of Home Affairs is the focal agency advising the Provincial People's Committee to manage labor conciliators, responsible for monitoring, guiding, inspecting and coordinating conciliators throughout the province when necessary.

Specialized agencies under the commune-level People's Committee are responsible for managing, assigning mediators to participate in resolving disputes, monitoring and evaluating the results of task implementation.

Mediation activities must ensure objectivity, publicity, transparency, timeliness, and compliance with the law; respect the right to self-determination of the parties and the legitimate rights and interests of employees and employers.

In addition to dispute mediation, mediators are assigned the task of supporting dialogue and collective negotiation; providing legal advice to employee representative organizations; supporting the handling of collective work stoppages and strikes according to assignment; collecting information on labor relations and monitoring the implementation of successful mediation agreements.

The time limit for mediating personal labor disputes and collective labor disputes is 5 working days from the date of receipt of the request. Within 5 working days from the date of receipt of the request, the Department of Home Affairs or specialized agencies under the commune-level People's Committee are responsible for classifying and assigning mediators according to regulations.

The regulations also set requirements for work efficiency. Mediators are evaluated at two levels: completing tasks and not completing tasks. An important criterion is that the rate of labor dispute cases resolved in the year reaches 60% or more, along with the results of dispute resolution, activities to support the development of labor relations and compliance with assignments.

The regulations also stipulate that mediators are not allowed to receive money or benefits from the disputing parties, must keep information and documents secret and fully comply with the mediation process and procedures.

The new Regulation takes effect from October 6, 2026 and replaces the old Regulation on August 11, 2023.

See the original here