Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14) - Sweden (Ratification: 1931)

Replies received to the issues raised in a direct request which do not give rise to further comments (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, which answers the points raised in its previous direct request and has no further matters to raise in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Articles 4, 5 and 6 of the Convention. Total or partial exceptions – Compensatory rest. The Committee recalls its previous comment in which it requested the Government to provide additional information on the application in practice of section 14 of the Working Hours Act (1982:673) that authorizes temporary exceptions to the standard weekly rest period if required by special circumstances and on condition that the employee receives compensatory leave. In the absence of any new information in the Government’s report, the Committee once again requests the Government to: (i) give more detailed particulars on any exceptions that may have been authorized so far under section 14 of the Working Hours Act; (ii) specify the legal provisions, if any, prescribing the time frame within which compensatory rest must be granted for work performed on a day of weekly rest; and (iii) provide an updated list of all the categories of workers and types of establishment which are currently subject to permanent or temporary exemptions from the standard weekly rest scheme. The Committee would also appreciate receiving sample copies of collective agreements in the industrial sector containing clauses on weekly rest.

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

Article 4 of the Convention. Total or partial exceptions. The Committee notes that section 14 of the Working Hours Act (1982:673) provides that temporary exceptions to the normal weekly rest scheme may be made where required by special circumstances that the employer could not have foreseen. It would appreciate receiving more detailed information on the practical implementation of this provision, including the number of such derogations recorded, the sectors concerned, the average duration of limitations or exemptions from weekly rest rules, etc.

In addition, the Committee notes that section 14 of the Working Hours Act, as amended by Act SFS 2005:165, authorizes temporary exceptions only on condition that the employee is allowed corresponding compensatory leave, without specifying however the time frame within which such compensatory rest must be granted. Recalling that, according to the spirit of the Convention, workers should not work for unreasonably long periods without receiving the rest periods to which they are entitled, the Committee requests the Government to indicate how the granting of compensatory rest is regulated, whether by order of the Work Environment Authority or otherwise, and to communicate copy of any relevant document.

Article 6. List of exceptions. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply an updated list of all the categories of workers and types of establishment which are currently exempted permanently or temporarily, in whole or in part, from the general weekly rest scheme of 24 consecutive hours in every period of seven days provided for in Article 2 of the Convention.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. In view of the fact that the Government has supplied for the last time information on the practical application of the Convention in 1982, the Committee requests the Government to provide up to date information in this regard, including, for instance, statistics on the number of workers covered by the relevant legislation, labour inspection results showing the number of infringements observed and sanctions imposed, copies of relevant collective agreements containing clauses on weekly rest, etc.

Finally, the Committee takes this opportunity to recall that, based on the conclusions and proposals of the Working Party on Policy regarding the Revision of Standards, the ILO Governing Body has decided that the ratification of up to date Conventions, including the Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14), and the Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106), should be encouraged because these instruments continue to respond to current needs (see GB.283/LILS/WP/PRS/1/2, paragraphs 17–18). The Committee accordingly invites the Government to contemplate ratifying Convention No. 106 and to keep the Office informed of any decision taken or envisaged in this respect.