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1.  Article 4(b) of the Convention.  The Committee notes with interest the information provided in the Government’s report regarding modifications made to the parental insurance and child allowance schemes, including the large family supplements to the basic child allowance. The Committee particularly notes the modifications made to the parental insurance scheme, effective 1 January 1995, which provide for allocation of the parental cash benefit depending upon whether the parents share custody of the child or one parent has sole custody. The Committee would appreciate receiving information, including statistical data, disaggregated by sex, on the practical application of this provision and its practical effect in promoting the objectives set forth in Article 3(a) of the Convention.

2.  The report indicates that, following a mandate from a trade union network, the Swedish Equal Opportunities Ombudsman (JämO) is conducting a study of problems workers face when they return to work after taking parental leave. The Government points out that, while section 5 of the Equal Opportunities Act of 1991 requires Swedish employers to facilitate the combination of gainful employment and parenthood for both male and female employees, employers often disregard this legal obligation. Moreover, many employees fail to exercise their rights in this area for fear of provoking their employers. The Government indicates that the most frequent problems faced by workers after a period of parental leave involve wage discrimination, disputes regarding work schedules and discrimination related to changes of organization at the workplace. The report indicates that JämO has handled 23 cases during the reporting period concerning problems of combining work and family responsibilities. In light of the problems described in the report, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the cases brought before JämO relevant to the Convention, including information on the nature of the cases, the action taken and the outcome. It also requests the Government to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to promote greater compliance on the part of employers with their obligations under section 5 of the Equal Opportunities Act of 1991.

3.  The Committee notes the National Board of Occupational Health and Safety’s issuance in 1994 of Ordinance AFS 1994:32, in compliance with European Council Directive 92/85/EEC, calling for the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers, workers who have recently given birth, or those who are breastfeeding.