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

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Sweden (Ratification: 1982)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, including the amendments to the Work Environment Act (up to and including SFS 2003:1099) (“WEA”), to the Work Environment Ordinance (up to and including SFS 2003:791), and the new Work Environment Authority (Standing Instructions) Ordinance (SFS 2000:1211) including amendments (up to and including SFS 2002:755), which all give further effect to the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the reconstitution in 2001 of the National Board of Occupational Safety and Health and the Labour Inspectorate into a single national authority – the Work Environment Authority, which gives further effect to Article 15 of the Convention.

2. Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. Consultations for the formulation, implementation and periodical review of a coherent national policy on occupational safety, occupational health and the working environment. The Committee recalls the observations of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) that, as a result of a Government resolution, the central parties on both sides had not been represented on the regional supervisory bodies and that complying with the requirements of Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention had become increasingly difficult. The Committee notes that the Government in its reply underscores that, according to the national legislation (section 2, point 10, of the WEA) “in particular the Work Environment Authority shall promote co-operation with the employers and the employees in the work environment context”. Against the background of the observations of LO, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide further information on the application of relevant national legislation in practice, in particular as regards actual consultations held with the most representative organizations of employers and workers for the formulation, implementation and periodical review of a coherent national policy on occupational safety, occupational health and the working environment.

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