Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Sweden (Ratification: 1962)

1. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the Equal Opportunities Act, No. 443, which entered into force on 1 January 1992 and repealed the 1979 legislation of this subject, as well as the consequent amendments to the Ordinances containing the instructions for the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman and the Equal Opportunities Commission. Noting that, to date, no collective agreements have been negotiated under the new Act, nor court cases decided in application of its provisions, the Committee requests the Government to supply, in its next report, information on its application in practice, in particular concerning the enforcement activities of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman and the Equal Opportunities Commission and on any annual plans for the promotion of equal opportunities between men and women at work. It would also appreciate receiving copies of any collective agreements containing provisions on the elimination of sex discrimination in employment negotiated in accordance with the new Act.

2. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the measures taken to facilitate the adjustment of immigrants to working life in Sweden, as well as the final report of the Government Commission to study measures against ethnic discrimination, whose work followed on from the 1989 legislative proposals made by the Discrimination Ombudsman and the 1990 recommendations of the Commission against Racism and Xenophobia. The Committee notes with interest from the English language summary of the final report (SOU 1992:96) that the Commission proposes the adoption of a new Act against ethnic discrimination at work. This new legislation would prohibit discriminatory treatment in both recruitment and conditions of work on the bases of race, colour, national or ethnic origin, or creed and a Discrimination Ombudsman would be given similar enforcement functions as now exist for the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman as regards sex discrimination. Noting that the proposal is currently being circulated for comment and the replies being studies by the Government, the Committee asks the Government to supply information on progress towards the adoption of this legislation in its next report.

3. Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the report and proposals of the Parliamentary Committee (SAPO-Kommitten) on the screeening of personnel - copies of which have been requested since 1992 following expressions of concern from the Swedish ILO Committee over their content - are still under consideration in the relevant Ministry, now the Ministry of Justice. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on the outcome of this consideration.

4. The Committee is addressing a direct request to the Government on certain other points.