Observación (CEACR) - Adopción: 2014, Publicación: 104ª reunión CIT (2015)

Convenio sobre el marco promocional para la seguridad y salud en el trabajo, 2006 (núm. 187) - Suecia (Ratificación : 2008)

The Committee notes the observations of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) received on 21 November 2013.

The Committee also notes the joint observations made by the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO), the LO and the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (SACO), received on 10 November 2014. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in respect of these observations.

Article 4(2)(c) of the Convention. Mechanisms for ensuring compliance with national laws and regulations, including inspection systems. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government according to which the number of visits of workplaces and the number of inspections have been steadily decreasing since 2011. The Government indicates that the number of inspectors has fallen but work has been done to improve the efficiency of inspection visits. The number of assignments per inspector increased between 2009 and 2011 as a result of more effective inspection methods and the reduction of administrative work. In addition, following a 2010–12 pilot project, it was decided that inspection activities should focus on reaching the most vulnerable workplaces. In this context, the Agency for Public Management (APM) analysed the Work Environment Authority’s (WEA) ability to fulfil its mandate in line with the decisions of the Government with regard to the working environment. The Committee also notes the observations of the LO according to which the number of workplaces to be inspected by the WEA has increased by 194,133 between 2007 and 2012, and the number of workers per inspector has increased from 11,010 to 16,991, therefore greatly exceeding the ILO recommendation of one inspector per 10,000 workers. It is also indicates that inspectors have received instructions to orient their activities toward mediation and training rather than inspection. In light of the observations of the LO, the Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the functioning of its labour inspection system and on the measures taken or envisaged to address the decrease in the number of inspections performed by the WEA. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the APM’s analysis of the WEA’s inspection activities, including on its outcome.

Article 4(3)(a). National tripartite advisory body, or bodies, addressing OSH issues. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in addition to holding regular consultations with the social partners, the Ministry of Labour carries out consultations when required. Furthermore, pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of the Ordinance instructing the WEA (2007:913), the agency must consult social partners to the extent necessary for its activities and before it decides on provisions or on important administrative cases. In this respect, the Committee notes that the LO once again observes that the tripartite meetings organized are more focused on giving information, rather than policy discussion, and are held too infrequently. In light of the observations by the LO, the Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the tripartite consultations held in relation to OSH issues, including on their frequency and the nature of the questions addressed in meetings.

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