Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 337, June 2005

Case No 2171 (Sweden) - Complaint date: 20-NOV-01 - Closed

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 156. At its November 2004 session, the Committee examined this case, which concerns a statutory amendment enabling workers to remain employed until the age of 67 and prohibiting negotiated clauses on compulsory early retirement. The Committee referred to its extensive analysis of the fundamental issues in its initial examination on the merits of the case [330th Report, paras. 1010-1053] and reiterated its previous requests that the Government take remedial measures so that agreements already negotiated on compulsory retirement age shall continue to produce all their effects until their expiry dates, including after 31 December 2002, and that it should resume thorough consultations on these issues, with a view to finding a negotiated solution which would be mutually acceptable to all parties concerned, in conformity with freedom of association principles. The Committee also requested the Government to keep it informed of developments in this matter, and of the results of meetings with bargaining partners, including those which the Government states it intends to initiate in the near future [see 335th Report, para. 183].
2. 157. In a communication dated 16 February 2005, the Government stated that the Minister of Employment intended to resume contacts with the social partners. The Ministry has now continued these consultations, which were followed on 2 February 2005 by a meeting between the Minister and the complainant organizations (Swedish Trade Union Confederation and Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees). The Government stated that it expected that an agreed solution could be reached in the future, but that discussions had to continue.
3. 158. The Committee notes this information. Pointing out that the complaint was filed in November 2001, the Committee expects its recommendations on remedial measures will be acted upon and hopes that a negotiated solution may be found in the near future. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of developments in this matter, including on the results of any meetings held with social partners.