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Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156) - Sweden (RATIFICATION: 1982)

Other comments on C156

Observation

2007

Direct Request

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Legislative developments. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Work Environment Authority’s provisions on pregnant and breastfeeding workers with regard to risk assessment have been revised, and entered into force in April 2008. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any impact of the Work Environment Authority’s provisions on pregnant and breastfeeding workers with regard to risk assessment, with a view to taking account of the needs of workers with family responsibilities. It once again asks the Government to provide information on the practical application of section 11 of the Employment Protection Act, as well as sections 16 and 17 of the Parental Leave Act, as well as on any other measures taken or envisaged to promote the objectives of the Convention.

Article 4(b) of the Convention. Social security. The Committee notes with interest the introduction in 2008 of the gender equality bonus, in which parents who take an equal number of parental benefit days each, receive the maximum bonus of 13,500 Swedish kronas (SEK) together, on condition that they work when the other parent is receiving the parental benefit. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on future developments in social security programmes and entitlements that improve workers’ ability to balance work and family responsibilities. It also asks the Government to provide statistics on the practical application of the measures, including the gender equality bonus.

Article 6. Information and education. The Committee again asks the Government to provide details of its information and education strategy to raise awareness about available parental leave benefits and to indicate how these efforts affect the number of leave days taken by men and women respectively. The Committee also asks the Government to report on the measures taken or envisaged to raise awareness among the foreign-born population about available social security benefits, in particular parental cash benefits, to assist them in reconciling work and family responsibilities.

Article 11. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee recalls the active engagement of the social partners on the issue of workers with family responsibilities. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken to promote social dialogue and tripartite cooperation in order to strengthen laws, measures and policies giving effect to the Convention, and on the manner in which workers’ and employers’ organizations have exercised their right to participate in the design and implementation of such measures.

Parts III–V of the report form. The Committee notes that according to Chapter 6, section 2, of the Discrimination Act of 2008 (SFS 2008: 567), the Equality Ombudsman, which replaced, among others, the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman (EOO), may bring a court action on behalf of an individual. The Committee recalls its previous comments asking the Government to provide information on the nature and outcome of the complaints submitted to the EOO, as well as the results of the EOO’s work to monitor the application of section 5 of the Equal Opportunities Act. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the Labour Court has not decided any case of principle regarding the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the nature and outcome of the complaints submitted to the Equality Ombudsman, including with regard to unfair treatment or dismissal on the grounds of family responsibilities. It also asks the Government to provide information on any cases brought before the Labour Court, including those by the Equality Ombudsman, as well as information on the number, nature and outcome of such cases.