Representatives from Dispute Resolution Agencies and Ministries of Labour throughout the Southern Africa Development Co-operation (SADC) region, will convene at the Commission for Conciliation  Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) offices for the second Southern African Regional Cooperation workshop on dispute resolution prevention and management, from 15 – 16 March 2006. This workshop is a follow up on the 2-day workshop organised by the CCMA with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Swiss Project that was held in Midrand on 10-11 May 2005. Where delegates deliberated on the following:

• Sharing of information on current structuring and functioning of dispute resolution agencies and Ministries of Labour, which perform that function in the Southern African region.
  
• Identifying the key challenges involved.
  
• Debating the need for enhanced dispute resolution and prevention, linkages and defining the relationship with the SADC secretariat in that regard and the modalities thereof.
  
• Considering a more structured collaboration and the sharing of ideas, experiences and resources between Southern African dispute resolution agencies and Ministries of Labour that perform that function.
  
• Addressing the question of Southern African regional participation at International Level.
  According to Mr. Charles Nupen of the ILO Swiss Project, these workshops are an outcome of long discussions between the CCMA and ILO regarding the commitment made by SADC members in 2001 to address dispute prevention and management in the region.

The 2 day workshop will, amongst other things, focus on:

• the adoption of the decision reached by the delegates ‘to set up a regional forum to cooperate regarding dispute prevention and resolution’;
  
• practical application of areas of cooperation – sharing of information, experiences and capacity building;
  
• changing the focus to dispute prevention; and
  
• improving efficiencies and effectiveness regarding dispute prevention and resolution.