Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2009, publiée 99ème session CIT (2010)

Convention (n° 155) sur la sécurité et la santé des travailleurs, 1981 - Suède (Ratification: 1982)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, including numerous amendments to the Work Environment Act and the Work Environment Ordinance during the reporting period. The Committee also notes the response provided by the Government on consultations with representative organisations of employers and workers, as required under Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention.

Article 5, subparagraph (e). Policy regarding the protection of workers from disciplinary measures. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the protection afforded to safety delegates in the Work Environment Act (SFS 1977:1160), including workers’ entitlement to leave of absence for the performance of their duties, and protection from reprisals; and the requirement under chapter 6, section 7 of the Work Environment Authority’s Provisions on Systematic Work Environment Management (AFS 2001:1) that employers must cooperate with the workers before any decision is taken on changes to the operation. It notes however, that the referenced legislation does not appear to address the issue in Article 5(e). The Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information on how individual workers, without OSH responsibilities, who take actions properly in conformity with national policy, are protected from disciplinary measures, as required by Article 5(e) of the Convention.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the initiatives taken by the Work Environment Authority during the reporting period for the prevention of stress-related illnesses and musculoskeletal disorders, including a tripartite initiative in the call-centre industry resulting in the publication of “A good call-centre work environment, recommendations and guidelines”, and the publication by the Work Environment Authority of a book entitled “How are our muscles affected by stress? The connection between physical strain and mental stress”. The Committee also notes the information provided indicating that a substantial number of appeal cases have been heard during this period concerning solitary work and violence/threats of violence at petrol stations, at all-night service stores and in public transport, and that cash handling has been one of the focal issues. The Committee also notes the increase of work accidents by more than 50 per cent during the last three years in the financial sector, as noted by the Government in its report on the Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 (No. 119). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to respond to the increase in work accidents in the financial sector, and to continue to provide information on the impact of measures taken to curb the rise in the number of occupational and stress-related illnesses including, in particular, musculoskeletal injuries and ill health resulting from stress and psychosocial conditions.