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

Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) - Sweden (Ratification: 2008)

Further to its observation, the Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points:

Articles 2(1) and 4(1) of the Convention. Continuous improvement of occupational safety and health (OSH). Periodical review and progressive development of the national system. The Committee notes that the report is silent as the effect given to Article 2 (1). As regards Article 4(1) the Government males reference to that the national system for the work environment includes legislation and statutory instruments. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on measures taken to ensure that full effect is given to these provisions of the Convention.

Article 3(2). Promote and advance, at all relevant levels, the right of workers to a safe and healthy environment. The Committee notes that in its report the Government refers to the provisions in the Systematic Work Environment Management Act and Chapter 3, section 2 of the Work Environment Act which provides that employers should take all precautions necessary to prevent workers from being exposed to health hazards or accident risks. With reference to the terms of this provision of the Convention, the Government is requested to provide further information on measures taken for the promotion and advancement of the right of workers to a safe and healthy environment.

Article 4(3)(h). Support mechanism for progressive improvements of OSH conditions in small and medium enterprises and the informal economy. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that the Work Environment Act is applicable to practically the whole of working life, with all its various branches of activity and forms of employment and even though it applies above all to hired workers, it is also applicable to self-employed persons. The Committee also notes that Chapter 1, section 4 of the Work Environment Act provides that it does not apply to work done in the employer’s household by those over the age of 18. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the provisions applicable to domestic workers over the age of 18, and measures taken or envisaged so as to progressively improve OSH conditions in small and medium enterprises and the informal economy.

Article 5. The national program on occupational safety and health. The Committee notes that the information provided by the Government on the application of this provision is that it supports and promotes the national program through annual funding to the WEA and that outcomes with reference to stated objectives and an analysis of the developments in this field are presented annually in the Government’s Budget Bill with the aid of a number of indicators. The Government is requested to provide further information on the practical application of this Article of the Convention including on the objectives, targets and indicators of progress used.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the information provided regarding the application in practice of the Convention, publicized on the web pages of the Work Environment Authority. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the application in practice of the Convention, and to provide, where such statistics exist, information on the number of workers covered by the legislation, the number and nature of the contraventions reported, and the number, nature and cause of accidents and occupational diseases reported.