Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Sweden (Ratification: 1970)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Previous comment

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on labour inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 (labour inspection) and 129 (labour inspection in agriculture) together.

Articles 3(1) and (2), and 5(a) of Convention No. 81 and Articles 6(1) and (3), and 12 of Convention No. 129. Additional duties entrusted to labour inspectors related to immigration. Cooperation of inspection services with other services or institutions engaged in similar activities. Following its previous comment regarding the operation of the Department of Joint Authority Control of the Swedish Work Environment Authority (SWEA), the Committee takes note of the Government’s indication in its report that the Department is responsible for the SWEA´s work against workplace crime and that it is composed of 35 work environment inspectors. The Government indicates that the Department is currently expanding in order to reach a target figure of approximately 75 employees at the end of June 2024, and that the recruitment process to increase the number of work environment inspectors to around 50 has already started. The Committee also takes note that, according to the Government’s indication; (i) labour inspectors verify that the employer complies with rules on the working environment, working hours and the posting of workers from another country to Sweden; and (ii) if they find information that can prove useful for the Migration Agency, they share it under certain conditions; but (iii) their main duties and objectives remain at the heart of their inspection and supervision functions. Noting that the Government did not provide information on the reinstatement of the rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide information regarding the manner in which the SWEA ensures the enforcement of the rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation (such as social security benefits for the period of employment).

Article 5(b) of Convention No. 81 and Article 13 of Convention No. 129. Collaboration between the labour inspectorate and employers and workers or their organizations. In response to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government indicates that the workers’ health and safety representatives who wish to ask for the intervention of the SWEA must follow guidelines established in the Work Environment Act. According to the Government, the first step is to request action from the employer and if no measure, incorrect measures, or insufficient measures have been taken, a specific form must be sent to the SWEA. The SWEA then checks that the formal requirements provided for by Chapter 6, section 6a, of the Work Environment Act or section 19(a) of the Working Hours Act (1982:673) are met, and if such requirements are met, the SWEA will proceed with the request. The SWEA will in most cases carry out an inspection and then decide whether an injunction or a prohibition order should be issued. The Government also indicates that between 2015 and 2022, the workers’ health and safety representatives made 11 requests to the SWEA for matters concerning the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Article 7(3) of Convention No. 81 and Article 9(3) of Convention No. 129. Qualifications and training of labour inspectors. In response to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government indicates: (i) that the training programme for labour inspectors runs for just over six months after their recruitment; (ii) that it includes nine central training sessions and five follow-up meetings; and (iii) that the number of participating inspectors is usually between 25–30. The Government also indicates that the central training sessions, which amount to a total of 30 days of training, are organized around the authority role of labour inspectors (so-called “authority weeks” – four weeks) and different work environment areas (so-called “subject weeks” – five weeks) dealing with organizational and social work environment, physical work environment, chemical work environment, technical work environment, as well as stress and workload ergonomics. The Government clarifies that the agricultural sector is included in the “subject week” session relating to technical work environment. Finally, the Government indicates that training focuses on a basic level of knowledge regarding the authority role of labour inspectors (including the knowledge of applicable rules) and the respective work environment area, but that it does not include knowledge of sectoral areas such as construction and civil engineering or transport. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Publication and content of the annual labour inspection reports. Following the Committee’s previous comment, the Government has appended to its report the annual report issued by the SWEA in 2022. The Committee notes that the Government has provided statistics on the number of inspections carried out and the number of injunctions, prohibitions and penalties issued but that it did not provide statistics specific to the agricultural sector. The Committee once again requests the Government to: (i) pursue its efforts to ensure that the annual labour inspection reports are transmitted to the ILO and published in conformity with Article 20 of Convention No. 81 and Article 26 of Convention No. 129; and (ii) take the necessary measures to ensure that the annual reports contain information specific to the agricultural sector, as required by Article 27 of Convention No. 129.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on labour inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 (labour inspection) and 129 (labour inspection in agriculture) together.

Articles 3(1) and (2), and 5(a) of Convention No. 81 and Articles 6(1) and (3), and 12 of Convention No. 129. Additional duties entrusted to labour inspectors related to immigration. Following the Committee’s previous request concerning the activities of the Swedish Work Environment Authority (SWEA) related to migrant workers in an irregular situation, the Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that in 2019 the Department for Joint Authority Control was established within the SWEA. The Government indicates that the Department for Joint Authority Control is in charge, among others, of the control of the registry of posting of foreign workers, administrative matters related to the SWEA’s function as the liaison office according to the Posting of Workers Act, as well as administration and decision-making regarding penalties connected to posting. The Committee also notes the Government’s reference in its report to cooperation between the SWEA and the Migration Agency. In relation to the Committee’s request on the number of cases where undocumented workers have been granted their due rights, the Committee notes the Government indication that the SWEA does not handle the issue of payment of outstanding remuneration. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the operation of the Department for Joint Authority Control within the SWEA, indicating if it is staffed by labour inspectors, as well as information on the specific nature of the cooperation between the SWEA and the Migration Agency. In this respect, it requests further information on the measures taken to ensure that the functions assigned to labour inspectors do not interfere with the main objective of labour inspectors of ensuring the protection of workers in accordance with labour inspectors’ primary duties, as provided for in Article 3(2) of the Convention. Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which the SWEA ensures the enforcement of the rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation (such as social security benefits for the period of employment), irrespective of whether it handles payment of outstanding remuneration.

Article 7(3) of Convention No. 81 and Article 9(3) of Convention No. 129. Qualifications and training of labour inspectors. In its previous comment, the Committee noted that, in their observations, the Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees (TCO), the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) and the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (SACO) indicated that following the reorganization of the SWEA in 2014, labour inspectors covered all subject areas within the competence of the Authority and all sectors, leading to a system of generalist-oriented labour inspectors, which risked losing expertise and credibility of labour inspectors. The Committee notes the response provided by the Government in its report indicating there is a high degree of specialist industry knowledge among the inspectors at SWEA but that all inspectors must be able to handle different types of inspections as the SWEA prioritize different areas of inspection in different years. In this regard, the Government indicates that internal trainings are always carried out before different forms of inspection activities are initiated, and that there is a mandatory six-month training course for newly recruited inspectors. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the subjects covered, frequency, duration, and number of participants for the training given to labour inspectors to ensure that they are adequately trained for the performance of their duties, including specific information with respect to the agricultural sector as required by Article 9(3) of Convention No. 129.

Article 5(a) of Convention No. 81 and Article 12 of Convention No. 129. Cooperation between the labour inspection services and other government services. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the TCO and the LO observations concerning deficiencies in the cooperation of the SWEA with other agencies, such as the Swedish Public Employment Service and the Swedish Social Insurance Agency with a view to protecting certain categories of vulnerable workers. The Committee notes the response provided by the Government indicating that the cooperation of the SWEA with other agencies occurs primarily through agreements or arrangements about cooperation, which are oriented towards information and experience exchange but which also encompass the distribution of supervision responsibilities, mutual supervision questions, supervision projects, and competence development. The Government indicates that the SWEA is obliged to cooperate with the Social Insurance Agency, the Public Employment Service and the National Board of Health and Welfare. The Government also indicates the SWEA has started a cooperation with twelve authorities to create overarching cooperation though the coordination of activities regarding inspection, regulatory change, information and analysis. The Committee further notes other cooperation undertaken by the SWEA such as joint supervision campaigns in order to improve the safety of goods transport, the cooperation with the police to counteract fraudulent freight companies, and the cooperation with the Tax Agency. The Committee takes note of this information.

Article 5(b) of Convention No. 81 and Article 13 of Convention No. 129. Cooperation between the labour inspection services and employers and workers or their organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the TCO and the LO observations concerning difficulties in the collaboration between the workers’ health and safety representatives and the SWEA, including in relation to the follow-up given by labour inspectors to requests made by these representatives to undertake workplace inspections. The Committee notes the response provided by the Government indicating that requests from workers’ health and safety representatives are part of the mandatory supervision for SWEA. An inspection is carried out if the request falls under the SWEA’s supervisory area and the health and safety representative has communicated with the employer. The Government indicates that there was an increase in requests from workers’ health and safety representatives after the new Regulation on Organisational and social work environment came into force in March 2016, but that by 2018, the number of requests declined. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide additional information on cooperation between the SWEA and the workers’ health and safety representatives, including specifically the workers’ representatives in the agricultural sector, and, in particular, on the manner in which the requests of the workers’ health and safety representatives are processed by the SWEA and on the follow-up given to these requests.

Articles 10, 11 and 16 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 14, 15 and 21 of Convention No. 129. Number of labour inspectors and labour inspection visits. Following its previous comment, the Committee notes with interest the Government’s indication that the SWEA budget increased between 2015 and 2019, which resulted in an increase in the number of labour inspectors from 238 in 2015 to 285 in 2019. It also notes that the number of labour inspections increased from 21,000 in 2015 to 27,000 in 2018, due to the increase in number of inspectors, and the fact that those inspectors recruited are now trained in their roles and work more independently. It notes that the number of injunctions, prohibitions and penalties increased from 1,002 in 2017 to 1,469 in 2018, which the Government indicates is due to the increase in the number of inspections, the improvement in efficiency though better case management, better training and an increase in the quality of the preparation of cases though more efficient cooperation between inspectors, lawyers and decision-makers within the authority. The Committee further notes that the SWEA continues its work of developing digital tools for statistical analysis to support the planning of inspection activities and the selection of workplaces to be inspected.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Publication and content of the annual labour inspection reports. Following its previous comment, the Committee takes note of the 2017 annual report on the activities of the labour inspection services submitted with the Government’s report. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure that the annual labour inspection reports are transmitted to the ILO and published in conformity with Article 20 of Convention No. 81 and Article 26 of Convention No. 129. It also requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the annual reports contain information specific to the agricultural sector, as required by Article 27 of Convention No. 129.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on labour inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 and 129 together.

The Committee notes the joint observations made by the Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees (TCO), the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) and the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (SACO) received on 1 September 2016.

Articles 3(1) and (2), and 5(a) of Convention No. 81 and Articles 6(3), and 12 of Convention No. 129. Functions entrusted to labour inspectors in relation to foreign workers. In its previous comment on Convention No. 81, the Committee noted the increased cooperation of the Swedish Work Environment Authority with the Swedish Migration Board in relation to issues concerning work permits of foreign workers. The Committee notes that, in reply to its request for additional information on the cooperation with other government services in relation to foreign workers, the Government indicates that inter-agency cooperation has been further increased in the area of undeclared work, but that each agency operates strictly within its own area of responsibility, and that collaboration results in increased opportunities to curb criminal activity in working life. In this respect, the functions of the Swedish Work Environment Authority, which are provided for in the Work Environment Authority (Standing Instructions) Ordinance 2007:913, principally relate to work environment and working hours legislation.

In relation to the Committee’s request concerning the activities of the Swedish Work Environment Authority to secure the rights of foreign workers in an irregular situation, the Committee notes that the Government refers to the Swedish Model, in which industrial action may be taken by the social partners in relation to posted workers relating to the breach of conditions in collective agreements. However, the Committee also notes that the Government has not provided specific information on how the individual rights of foreign workers are guaranteed where they are found to be in an irregular situation and where they are not included in any of the official records of posted workers referred to by the Government.

In addition, noting the Government’s indication that the social partners are principally responsible to secure the application of the work conditions in collective bargaining agreements, the Committee recalls that while, in accordance with Article 8(2) of Convention No. 129, Members may include in their system of labour inspection in agriculture officials or representatives of occupational organizations, whose activities supplement those of the public inspection staff, enforcement functions should be primarily assumed by labour inspectors who are properly trained and have the status and conditions of service guaranteeing their independence and impartiality. Referring also to paragraph 452 of its 2017 General Survey on the occupational safety and health instruments concerning the promotional framework, construction, mines and agriculture, the Committee requests the Government, once again, to provide information on the actions taken by the Swedish Work Environment Authority to enforce the rights of foreign workers in an irregular situation (such as the provision of information and advice to foreign workers concerning their due rights resulting from their past employment relationship, the notification to the social partners or other agencies entrusted with the enforcement of their rights, etc.) and on the number of cases where undocumented workers have been granted their due rights (including the payment of their outstanding remuneration, etc.).

Articles 4 and 7 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 7 and 9 of Convention No. 129. Qualifications and training of labour inspectors. The Committee notes that, in their observations, the TCO, the LO and the SACO under Convention No. 129 indicate that following the reorganization of the Work Environment Authority in 2014, labour inspectors now cover all subject areas within the competence of the Authority and all sectors (previously they were entrusted with controls in their specific area of expertise). According to the trade unions’ observations under Convention No. 81, there is an increasing trend towards a system of generalist-oriented labour inspectors, with the risk to lose expertise and credibility of labour inspectors among employers, health and safety representatives and workers. The TCO, the LO and the SACO indicate that this is specifically problematic in relation to atypical forms of employment and the agricultural sector, where sector-specific knowledge is particularly important. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in relation to the observations made by the TCO, the LO and the SACO and to indicate how it is ensured that labour inspectors have the necessary sector-specific skills and knowledge to enable them to effectively carry out their functions in relation to the control of compliance with the labour law provisions in the different sectors subject to their control.

Article 5(a) of Convention No. 81 and Article 12 of Convention No. 129. Cooperation between the labour inspection services and other government services. The Committee notes that the TCO and the LO reiterate the observations they have made previously concerning deficiencies in the cooperation of the Swedish Work Environment’s Authority with other agencies, such as the Swedish Public Employment Service and the Swedish Social Insurance Agency with a view to protect certain categories of vulnerable workers. According to the LO and the TCO, cooperation between government agencies is in most instances limited to meetings with a view to exchange experience and information, which the trade unions consider to be insufficient. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Article 5(b) of Convention No. 81 and Article 13 of Convention No. 129. The Committee notes the observations made by the TCO, the LO and the SACO concerning difficulties in the collaboration between the workers’ health and safety representatives and the Work Environment Authority, including in relation to the follow-up given by labour inspectors to requests made by these representatives to undertake workplace inspections. The trade unions also indicate that the number of complaints made by health and safety representatives has considerably increased. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 10, 11 and 16 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 14, 15 and 21 of Convention No. 129. Number of labour inspectors and labour inspection visits. The Committee notes that, having referred in their previous observations to the negative effects of the gradual reduction of the budget allocated to the Work Environment Authority since 2007 (reduction in the number of labour inspectors and regional offices, decrease in the quality of inspections, increase in the number of occupational accidents, etc.), the TCO, the LO and the SACO now refer to a recent increase in the budget of the Swedish Work Environment Authority, and the recruitment of new labour inspectors. They consider however that it will take time to remedy the previous cuts made to the inspection activities. The Committee notes from the information in the Government’s report that the number of labour inspectors decreased from 276 to 238 labour inspectors between 2010 and 2015 and that the number of labour inspection “actions” decreased from 34,000 to 21,000 in the same period. The Government indicates that the significant decrease in the number of labour inspection actions between 2013 and 2015 (from 31,500 to 21,000) is due to the reorganization in 2014 of the Work Environment Authority, the retirement of labour inspectors, the staff deployed for training of new recruits and the time required by staff to get familiarized with the new case management system (INES) introduced in 2015. The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government that the Work Environment Authority is currently reviewing an electronic system to identify workplaces where labour inspections should be considered. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the increase in the budget of the Swedish Work Environment Authority and the recruitment of new labour inspectors referred to by the TCO, the LO and the SACO. It encourages the Government to continue to take measures to ensure the allocation of adequate budgetary resources with a view to enable the recruitment of an adequate number of labour inspectors and the conduct of a sufficient number of labour inspections. It requests the Government to provide information on how the labour inspectorate ensures a satisfactory coverage of workplaces liable to inspection, including through the planning of labour inspection activities based on the electronic system referred to in the Government’s report to ensure that all workers receive adequate protection. It further requests that, pursuant to Article 7(3) of Convention No. 81, the Government provide information on the training provided to the newly recruited labour inspectors.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Publication and content of the annual labour inspection reports. The Committee notes that once again no annual report on the activities of the labour inspection services has been transmitted to the Office. It recalls the obligation of the Government, under Article 20(3) of Convention No. 81 and Article 26(3) of Convention No. 129, in this respect. The Committee firmly requests once again the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the Work Environment Authority regularly transmits to the ILO annual labour inspection reports within the time limits prescribed by Article 20 of Convention No. 81 and Article 26 of Convention No. 129 and containing the information required in Article 21(a)–(g) of Convention No. 81 and Article 27(a)–(g) of Convention No. 129.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Following on from its previous comments on progress made in the operation of the labour inspection service in agricultural and forestry undertakings, the Committee once again notes with satisfaction the Government’s constant efforts to provide the labour inspection services with the human and logistical resources they require to carry out their tasks of inspection, education and improving legislation (Article 6(1) of the Convention), in particular in the areas of health and safety of agricultural workers and their work environment.

Measures to improve occupational safety and health conditions in agricultural undertakings. Given that agricultural and forestry are among the areas of activity with the highest accident rates (on average 15 deaths and thousands of cases of injury every year), the Work Environment Authority is endeavouring to adapt its activities in the light of the results of labour inspections and advances in technical knowledge in order to reduce occupational risks specific to the areas of activity concerned. According to the Government, six occupational accident surveys carried out in the agricultural sector since 2010 and published on the Internet are to be followed up with a range of measures with that purpose in mind. The Committee notes that a detailed list of points for inspection and a glossary of terms used in labour inspection in the agricultural sector will shortly be made available to all inspectors.

Inspection of agricultural machinery and its use. The Committee notes that the competence of the labour inspection service in agriculture also includes preventive inspection of market products intended for small-scale forestry undertakings and their customers, with the aim of registering those products with regard to their safe use. With the same concern in mind, the labour inspection service provides manufacturers and purchasers of certain agricultural machinery with information on the assembly of that machinery by means of a brochure which focuses on conformity with European standards.

Inspection of livestock breeding activities. The Committee notes with interest that the activities of the labour inspection service in livestock breeding undertakings have prompted the Work Environment Authority, during the period of the report, to initiate a range of measures intended to improve safety and health conditions in the work environment, including: seeking alternative solutions for marking livestock; revising regulations on pesticide spreading machinery and the use of motorized saws and chainsaws; and Internet publication of information and recommendations concerning microbiological risks and protection of persons caring for horses, dogs or cats infected with certain serious infectious diseases. In addition, organic dust in livestock breeding establishments is the focus of a two year national project. Dust concentrations are measured and recorded on poultry farms, in piggeries and other livestock breeding undertakings.

Measures to protect foreign workers employed in certain seasonal activities. Lastly, the Committee notes with interest the publication of a brochure available in several languages (English, Latvian, Lithuanian, Romanian, Russian and Polish) intended for foreign workers employed in seasonal work in forestry and berry picking. The brochure covers the social and legal aspects of seasonal work as well as issues of safety and health pertaining to particular activities of this kind.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes the Government’s reports received on 1 November 2007 and 2 August 2009. It also notes with interest the three brochures annexed to the 2007 report on: safety instructions for clearing forests damaged by storms (“Minimum requirements for salvage harvesting in wind-thrown forests”); the use of chemical substances on unsalvaged forest and existing stands; and the use of chemical substances for the planting and raising of new trees, all published by the Swedish Work Environment Authority (WEA).

Articles 6, paragraph 1(b), 5, paragraph 1(a), and 12 of the Convention. Inter-institutional cooperation for occupational safety and health in agriculture, including for independent farmers. The Committee notes with satisfaction the various measures taken by the WEA, in constant coordination with other national authorities and the social partners to prevent work injuries and accidents. According to the Government, information is distributed through brochures (such as the brochure “ADI 629-Working safely with animals”), a specific site on agriculture on the WEA’s web page (http://www.av.se/teman/jordochskog/), as well as through media activities and the participation of the WEA in trade union meetings. The WEA also provides individual advice on matters such as simple systems of risk assessment which can easily be applied by individual farmers, for example in enterprises with few or no employees, as well as supplying contact information to the respective enterprises on social partners with expertise on specific issues. In addition, the Government refers to the launching of a joint supervisory initiative in 2009 aimed at changing farmers’ attitudes to hazards in their work environment. The initiative will continue for three years and will focus on systematic work environment management, machinery, the hazards of firewood production, personal protective equipment and work with animals. It will include undertakings both with and without employees, as most fatal accidents occur in undertakings that do not have employees.

Articles 6, paragraph 1(a) and (b), and 9, paragraph 3. Specific preventive measures taken after the storms “Gudrun” (2005) and “Per” (2007), including special training for labour inspectors. The Committee notes with interest the short- and long-term measures carried out by the WEA in reaction to the consequences of the above storms. In the short term, the districts worst affected by the storm were allowed to coordinate functions in the area of supervision, including calling in work environment inspectors from all over Sweden to join the work. In addition, a specialist conference for 24 inspectors was organized to cope with the special situation in order to improve their skills for the surveillance of the areas hit by the storm. With regard to long-term measures, the WEA supplied information through the above brochures on special work risks following the storm, appropriate personal protective equipment and suitable working methods to cope with risks arising in chainsaw work for emergency salvage harvesting, and the spreading of strong chemical pesticides to prevent insect attacks in unsalvaged forests and existing stands, as well as pesticides to facilitate planting in cleared areas. In addition, labour suppliers, plant nurseries and major forestry enterprises have been targeted with supervisory measures.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide details of the other activities to which it refers in its report, namely: (1) media activities; (2) the system of risk assessment; and (3) the joint supervisory initiative in 2009 aimed at changing farmers’ attitudes to hazards in their work environment.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

In its previous comments, the Committee noted the observations of the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union, dated 24 March 2003 (and not 2004, as incorrectly stated in the Committee’s previous comments), transmitted to the Government by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and sent to the Office by the tripartite committee responsible for relations with the ILO on 29 July 2004 and which concerned the content of the Government’s report submitted to the Office in November 2002. The Committee also noted the Government’s explanations responding in part to these observations, and indicated that it would examine, together with the Government’s subsequent report on the application of the Convention, the information sent in reply to its previous comments, the content of the union’s observations, and any further explanations the Government saw fit to send on the points raised by the union. In its succinct report for the period ending June 2005, the Government did not provide the information requested by the Committee in 2003. It stated that it had no further comments to add to the information sent by the tripartite committee responsible for relations with the ILO in response to the Union’s observation, or to the information from the Swedish Work Environment Authority, communicated with its previous report.

1. Articles 11 and 14 of the Convention. Composition of labour inspection staff in the agriculture sector, specific skills and the number of undertakings liable to inspection. Article 21. Frequency of inspection visits. In reference to the Government’s statement that the resources of the ten district inspection services include 20 labour inspectors for agriculture, the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union indicates that although these inspectors are effectively responsible for inspections in the agricultural sector, the new working methods mean that the district inspection services now cover a wider field and that inspections in this sector are therefore often carried out by inspectors from different backgrounds. Given that every sector faces working environment-related problems that are not unique to that sector, the skills specifically required for each sector must be supplemented by experience from other sectors. One example might be problems relating to ergonomics in agriculture, which is why labour inspection in agriculture also requires the skills of specialists in ergonomics. These working methods, of a more universal nature, and this global approach to working environment issues echo the principles of a systematic work environment management system, formulated by the Swedish Work Environment Authority and embodied by its activities.

According to the Swedish Work Environment Authority, the present Convention should also be examined in relation to the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184), certain provisions of which, i.e. those relating to industrial safety inspectors, women in agriculture and the right to information, are different. The Committee asks the Government to specify the reasons for this point of view.

The Committee also notes that the Swedish Work Environment Authority considers the figure quoted by the Government – 20 labour inspectors in agriculture – to be questionable if referring to full-time inspectors. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide details on this point and indicate, in particular, as requested in the Committee’s 2003 observation, whether the 20 inspectors work full time in agricultural enterprises and, if not, indicate their geographical distribution and the portion of their working hours allocated by the district inspection services to the enforcement of the legislation in agricultural enterprises.

The Committee also asks the Government, once again, to indicate the number of agricultural enterprises liable to labour inspection and any changes in the frequency of inspections in such enterprises.

2. Article 6, paragraph 2, and Articles 18 and 22. “Safer work with agricultural machinery” project. The Committee asks the Government, once again, to provide details of the measures envisaged by the abovementioned project to eliminate the deficiencies in the machinery and facilities posing health and safety risks for agricultural workers, as well as other persons living on farms, and to provide any available statistics on the sanctions imposed or the administrative measures applied, as appropriate. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would inform it of any progress already made in this area.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee notes that on 24 March 2004 the Government sent an observation by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation concerning: (i) possible contradictions between the requirements of this Convention and those of the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184), as regards the presence and role of women on the staff of the inspectorate for agriculture; and (ii) the proportion of their duties that work environment inspectors devote to labour inspection in the agricultural sector.

The Committee also notes that the Government forwarded explanations regarding point (ii) above sent by the Work Environment Authority. The Committee will examine, together with the Government’s next report on the application of the Convention, the information sent in reply to its previous comments, the content of the organization’s observations, and any further explanations the Government sees fit to send on the points raised by the organization.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

The Committee notes the Government’s reports for the period ending 30 June 2003 and the partial replies to its previous comments, as well as the statistics of employment accidents and cases of occupational diseases in the agricultural sector, hunting and related services, including fatal employment accidents, in 1997-2001. With reference to the information provided by the Government concerning the issues raised previously by the Swedish Employers’ Confederation and the Swedish Agricultural Workers’ Union, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on the manner in which effect is given to the following Articles.

Article 14 of the Convention. The Committee notes that 20 work environment inspectors operate in ten district inspection services. Please specify whether these inspectors work full time in agricultural enterprises and, if not, indicate their geographical distribution and the portion of their working hours allocated by the district inspection services to the enforcement of the legislation in agricultural enterprises.

Article 21. The Government is asked to specify the number of agricultural enterprises liable to labour inspection and any changes in the frequency of inspections in such enterprises.

Article 6, paragraph 2, and Articles 18 and 22. The Government is asked to provide details of the measures envisaged by the "Safer work with agricultural machinery" project to eliminate the deficiencies in the machinery and facilities posing health and safety risks for agricultural workers, as well as other persons living on farms, and to provide the available statistics on the sanctions imposed or the administrative measures applied, as appropriate.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the statistics on work accidents and work-related illnesses disaggregated by activity and gender for 1998, 1999 and 2000. It also notes the observations from the Swedish Agricultural Workers’ Union (SAWU) and the information provided in reply by the Government and the National Board of Occupational Safety and Health. According to the SAWU, cooperation between the labour inspectorate in agriculture and employers and workers or their organizations (Article 13 of the Convention) is inadequate particularly at local level and should be developed on a more regular basis. The SAWU also regrets that there has been a reduction in the number of inspectors and in the time spent by inspectors in the agricultural sector (Article 14) despite the fact that the proportion of fatal accidents in the agricultural sector is relatively high compared to all sectors taken together. Furthermore, the time between visits and follow-up visits is becoming longer and longer because inspectors spend their time on other activities. The National Board of Occupational Safety and Health (NBOSH) for its part states that cooperation between the supervisory authorities and the organizations of agricultural employers and workers is flexible, focusing on certain specific questions in agriculture when the need arises. As to the strength of the agricultural labour inspectorate, the Government indicates that 23 inspectors are responsible for ten districts. While omitting to state whether this number is sufficient in respect of the criteria set in Article 14 of the Convention, the Government nonetheless says that most of the fatal accidents mentioned by the SAWU involve tractors and that, consequently, in the spring of 1999 a joint official project was conducted with seven inspection districts, entitled "Safer work with farm tractors". Measures to improve safety were ordered for 71 per cent of the 1,013 tractors subjected to a technical inspection in 413 undertakings. Furthermore, the Government states that the adoption of a new supervisory approach for agricultural machinery is being implemented in 300 undertakings with an audit of 15,000 agricultural machines, and refers to measures taken by the NBOSH in 1996 to prohibit the use of agricultural machinery by minors. The Government also states that the Labour Inspectorate has alerted employers to the risks incurred by children as passengers on tractors, such as the possibility of hearing impairment or of the tractor being started by a child.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide the information requested in the report form on the Convention under Article 14 and on practical measures taken or envisaged to ensure that inspections are carried out as often and as thoroughly as is necessary, in accordance with Article 21.