Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2005, publiée 95ème session CIT (2006)

Convention (n° 122) sur la politique de l'emploi, 1964 - Suède (Ratification: 1965)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s detailed report for the period ending in June 2004, as well as Sweden’s Action Plan for Employment 2004, attached.

1. Labour market policies. The Government indicates that one of its main tasks in the coming years will be once more to reduce unemployment below 4 per cent; the figure for 2004 stood at 5.6 per cent. In addition, the target of 80 per cent of the population aged between 22 and 64 being employed has not yet been achieved, although the current figure of approximately 77 per cent of employed persons largely meets the employment quantitative targets defined for EU countries, which stands at 70 per cent of the population. The Government considers that, to achieve its 80 per cent target, employment will have to be substantially increased, especially among older persons and those of non-Nordic origin. The Committee asks the Government to continue to report on how the measures taken to promote full and productive employment operate within a "framework of a coordinated economic and social policy". Please also include in the Government’s next report information on the achievements of its employment targets.

2. The Committee further notes the information on the trends in the labour market supplied by the Government in its report which shows that the improvement in the labour market ended in 2001 and a slight weakening has taken place in recent years resulting in less employment and a growth of unemployment. The Government indicates that the rise in unemployment is also connected with a substantial growth of labour supply, which can be partly attributed to cutbacks in municipal adult education. Women’s employment has diminished more than men’s, while the opposite applies concerning unemployment. The Government explains that this paradox is connected with more women than men having embarked on studies and more women leaving the labour market for health reasons. The employment participation rate of young persons (aged 16-24) has declined in recent years, the main reason being that more young people are studying and the duration of their studies is longer. However, long-term unemployment amongst young persons has been halved during the past year, meeting the National Labour Market Board’s objective. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive detailed disaggregated data on labour market trends (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

3. The Government indicates that the "Activity Guarantee", a measure that has been in place for four years with the aim of putting an end to the vicious cycle between labour market measures and unemployment benefit, has been the object of changes in its regulatory structure, partly in light of the experience gained and the results achieved. The number of persons enrolled in the "Activity Guarantee" between January and April 2004 was averaging 36,000. The Government explains that its Budget Bill for 2005 calls for a complete assessment of the four years’ activities of this programme. The Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on the assessment and success of this programme.

4. The Government further indicates that the experimental scheme of bottleneck training for persons already employed was inaugurated in July 2003 and will continue until December 2005. The initiative has yet to be evaluated but it can already be noted that the employment offices have had difficulties in attracting foreign-born employees to it. The Government also states that workplace introduction for certain immigrants (API) is being operated as an experimental scheme in 20 localities. Between the commencement of the scheme in September 2003 and August 2004, some 24,000 persons had taken part and 47 per cent of those completing API obtained further employment, mostly in private enterprises. The Committee takes note with interest of these experimental schemes and asks the Government to keep it informed of other developments, as well as the outcomes of the training schemes implemented, with a view to matching the requirements of the job market.

5. Regarding the promotion of employment among the occupationally handicapped, the Government indicates that the labour market administration had two targets concerning those persons. The first one was for at least 60,000 people with such disabilities to be employed. That target was achieved in 2003, when 62,000 occupationally handicapped persons were employed with wage subsidies or in public shelter employment. The second target is a yearly rise in the percentage of transitions from wage subsidies to non-subsidized employment. This target was also considered to be achieved in 2003 with an average of some 2,000 persons proceeding from wage subsidization to non-subsidized employment, which represented an increase compared to the previous year. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the impact of employment promotion for persons with occupational disabilities as well as results achieved in terms of their long-term integration in the open labour market.