Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2014, publiée 104ème session CIT (2015)

Convention (n° 187) sur le cadre promotionnel pour la sécurité et la santé au travail, 2006 - Suède (Ratification: 2008)

Referring to its observation, the Committee wishes to raise the following additional points.

Articles 2(1) and 5(1) of the Convention. Continuous improvement of occupational safety and health (OSH). Implementation, evaluation and periodical review of the national programme. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the “Renewed work environment policy with a national action plan” for 2011–15, which was approved by Parliament in 2011. According to the Government, in the course of the process of drawing up the action plan, work environment trends with regard to risks and opportunities, recommendations of the European Union (EU) for national strategies and the provisions of this Convention were taken into account, in addition to the views which emerged during the consultations held in this regard. Furthermore, the Committee notes that the Agency for Public Management (APM) will evaluate the action plan and submit its report in early 2015. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the national action plan and the manner in which it gives effect to these Articles of the Convention. It also asks the Government to provide information on the results of the APM’s evaluation of the action plan for 2011–15 and on any forthcoming action plans, and to submit a copy of the relevant national OSH documents, including the 2011–15 action plan.

Article 3(1). Formulation of a national policy. The Committee notes that the Government refers to the national action plan for 2011–15 in relation to the national policy. The Committee asks the Government to describe to what extent this plan is part of the national policy.

Article 3(2). Promotion and advancement of the right of workers to a safe and healthy environment. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in light of its monitoring and analysis of the working environment, the Work Environment Authority (WEA) works to simplify, improve and update its provisions in accordance with the developments occurring in workplaces. Accordingly, the Government has reformed the penalty system for cases of non-compliance by introducing sanction charges, which simplify the burden of proof and increase the effectiveness of the WEA monitoring system. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on measures taken or envisaged to ensure the promotion and advancement, at all relevant levels, of the right of workers to a safe and healthy working environment.

Article 3(3). Consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that consultations with the social partners are held six times a year by the management of the WEA and, in addition, when regulations are drawn up. However, regular consultations do not take place on a regional level and cooperation with, and the provision of information to, the social partners take place when required. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the social partners, including their outcome. It also asks the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to ensure that consultations are held with regional social partners with a view to promoting the development of a national preventative OSH culture.

Article 4(3)(d). Occupational health services. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, in an effort to improve the provision of occupational health services to workers, an initiative was carried out over 2011–13, and refocused towards employers in 2014, enabling occupational health services to apply for grants aimed at improving work on rehabilitation and encouraging initiatives to prevent and shorten cases of illness. It also notes that initiatives were also carried out for the improvement of the quality of occupational health, namely through the development of education and research in this field. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the outcome of the initiatives carried out in relation to occupational health services and on any other measures undertaken to maintain, progressively develop and periodically review the occupational health service system.

Article 4(3)(e). Research on OSH. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that research on working life and environment is carried out at higher education establishments and that the focus of the research is decided by Parliament every three years. It also notes the indication that the research policy for the 2013–16 period addresses the need to gain greater value from research results, and that the WEA’s remit to spread knowledge was expanded through the establishment of a national function for knowledge regarding working life and environment. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the OSH-related research carried out in the country, and to provide further details on the 2013–16 research policy.

Article 4(3)(f) and (g). Mechanism for the collection and analysis of data, and provisions for collaboration with relevant insurance or social security schemes. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the WEA and the Social Insurance Agency introduced an electronic reporting system aimed at facilitating the reporting of work-related injuries. It also notes that the report of the parliamentary committee charged with revising national insurance for sickness and unemployment, which included questions on insurance for work-related injuries and on the collection and analysis of statistics on work-related injuries, will be submitted in early 2015. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the results of the revision of the national insurance scheme and in relation to the collection and analysis of data.

Article 4(3)(h). Support mechanism for progressive improvement of OSH conditions in small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal economy. The Committee welcomes the Government’s indication that an amendment to section 8 of the Work Environment Act has made the Act’s provisions applicable to domestic workers. It also notes that in partnership with other agencies, the WEA has carried out a major initiative focused on companies who deliberately contravene the WEA regulations in order to gain a competitive advantage over compliant companies, and that it cooperated in a project relevant to human trafficking for forced labour and labour exploitation, and carried out a “Safe at Work” information campaign in the restaurant industry. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on measures taken or envisaged so as to progressively improve OSH conditions in small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal economy.

Article 5. National programme on OSH. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the indicators of progress relevant to OSH, presented annually in the Government’s Budget Bill, include the number of fatal occupational accidents, the number of occupational diseases reported and the proportion of absences due to sickness stated to be caused by workplace-related problems. It also notes that work is in progress at the WEA to produce indicators which would show the positive trends in the working environment. The Committee asks the Government to provide further details on the effect given to this Article of the Convention in practice.

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the application in practice of the Convention and welcomes the indication that the number of fatal accidents in the workplace has decreased from 45 in 2012 to 33 in 2013. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, including on the number of workers covered by the relevant legislation, the number and nature of the contraventions reported, and the number, nature and cause of occupational accidents and diseases reported.