In April 1998 the Intersectoral Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA) was set up in Spain. This organisation is designed to implement the social partners' agreement on resolving labour disputes out of court and the regulations accompanying this agreement, both dating from 1996. SIMA, which had
An agreement on resolving labour disputes out of court was signed in January 1996 by Spain's largest unions (UGT and CC.OO) and employers' associations (CEOE and CEPYME), covering the period until 31 December 2000. The agreement built on the experience in mediation and arbitration at a regional