Response to interpellation 2024/25:707 on the ratification of ILO Convention 190
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
L believes that the work for a working life free from violence and harassment is a priority issue 1 and that Convention 190 is a significant step in this work 1 2. L emphasizes that systematic work environment work and the employer's responsibility are the foundation for a good work environment 2, that there is a clear regulatory framework through the Work Environment Act 3 and that a new work environment strategy for 2026–2030 is underway 3. L states that the ratification is being prepared in the Government Offices 4. S considers that violence and harassment are a major problem where employers often do not do enough 5. S believes that it is unacceptable that people risk violence at work 5. S suggests that solitary work be limited in high-risk operations 6. S believes that the systematic work environment work needs to be strengthened and that more deficiencies should be subject to sanctions 6. S believes that Sweden is a role model in labor law 7. S argues that the government has not prioritized the ratification despite it being a low-hanging fruit 8.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Arbetsmarknadsministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! Johanna Haraldsson has asked Minister Nina Larsson whether the Minister and the Government intend to ratify ILO Convention 190 and, if so, when and what measures the Minister intends to take to strengthen the preventive work against violence and harassment in working life. The work within the Government is so distributed that it is now I who shall answer the interpellation.
I would like to start by thanking Johanna Haraldsson for the question. The work for everyone's right to a working life free from violence and harassment is a priority for the government. No one should have to be subjected to violence or harassment in their workplace.
To ensure a good structure for work environment work, including against violence and harassment in the workplace, the government usually decides on a timely work environment strategy. Guided by the strategy, Arbetsmiljöverket and the Agency for Work Environment Knowledge annually develop action plans within their respective areas to implement the work environment strategy in cooperation with the parties in the labor market. The action plans are followed up and reported to the government. Furthermore, the government has, among other things, continued the work with an ongoing work environment forum for dialogue with representatives for the parties in the labor market and relevant authorities.
The current work environment strategy for 2021–2025 will expire at the end of the current year. The Government therefore appointed a special investigator in 2024 with the task of preparing proposals for a new work environment strategy, with proposals for measures, for the years 2026–2030 (dir. 2024:56). The special investigator submitted the report A work environment strategy for a changed working life on 10 June 2025 (SOU 2025:73). The report has been referred.
The government has taken several measures to prevent violence and harassment against employees. For example, the government on March 13 this year adopted the bill A stronger protection for public employees against violence, threats and harassment etc. (prop. 2024/25:141).
ILO Convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work, which aims to protect workers and other persons in the world of work from violence, harassment, and gender-based violence and gender-based harassment in the world of work, is a significant step in the work to counter violence and harassment in the world of work both globally and nationally.
The question of ratifying Convention 190 is currently being prepared in the Government Offices.
Johanna Haraldsson (S)
Madam Speaker! I would like to begin by thanking you for the answer, especially for the Minister for Employment expressing that the ILO's convention is significant in the work to counter violence and harassment in the workplace.
Violence and harassment in our workplaces is a major problem. Young women are particularly vulnerable, according to the survey Arbetsmiljön 2024. Staff within LSS testify to violence and death threats. Train attendants are threatened with knives and assaulted. Shop staff are robbed. Care assistants are beaten by patients.
That people go to work and risk being subjected to violence is completely unacceptable. Common to many of these cases is that the employer has not done enough to prevent and preclude situations where employees are subjected to it. Sufficient resources are not being allocated to protect workers from threats and violence. Lack of staffing and insufficient support from employers create a breeding ground for violence and harassment in our workplaces.
Trade unions, safety representatives, and the Swedish Work Environment Authority point to deficient risk assessments, once again, to deficient induction and training for staff, and to lone working as a clear risk factor.
Madam Speaker! In 2019, the ILO adopted Convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace. The decision was taken by a large majority, and Sweden voted for an adoption of the convention.
The previous Social Democratic government had the investigation of how the convention could be implemented in Sweden carried out. The investigation showed that Swedish law is already compatible with the convention and proposed measures to strengthen the preventive work to reduce the vulnerability to violence and harassment in our workplaces. The investigation was sent for consultation. When the Tidö government took office, the investigation and consultation responses were ready, and the responsible minister already expressed an ambition for ratification at that time.
But then not much has happened, unfortunately. In 2023, I was informed that the minister wanted to wait for an EU decision before submitting the question of ratification to the Riksdag. Shortly before the decision from the EU over a year ago, the same minister announced that she intended to ratify the convention. Time and again, I have received the answer when I have asked: The matter is being prepared in the Government Offices. I receive the same answer today. That is usually the answer. But unlike many other questions, a positive attitude toward ratifying the convention has been clearly stated.
I have during these three years trusted that the government will present a proposal for the ratification of ILO 190 to the Riksdag during the mandate period, for the simple reason that, although it has taken time, they have repeatedly sent out positive signals.
Ratifying ILO 190 is neither complicated nor controversial. Everything is clear, and it should be a fairly simple process. So my question to the Minister for Employment remains: Does the government intend to ratify ILO Convention 190 and if so, when? Does one believe it can be done during this mandate period?
Adrian Magnusson (S)
Madam Speaker! I must also take the opportunity to welcome the Minister for Employment to the chamber. We will certainly have reason to see each other many times here in the future because the Minister is responsible for issues that are very important for many people in the country.
I also want to thank Johanna Haraldsson, who has raised the issue. As Johanna Haraldsson says, it is not a new issue but one that has been present a number of times here in the chamber.
This summer and last summer, I had the great honor and the great pleasure of attending the ILO's working conference in Geneva as one of two members of the Riksdag from Sweden. What struck me was how incredibly important it is that Sweden is present in these forums. We live in a time when international cooperation is unfortunately increasingly questioned, and countries that previously were very present in international contexts are increasingly backing away from them. A clear example, even if there may have been some improvement lately, is the USA. It is therefore important that Sweden is present and takes the lead in these types of international contexts.
For those who do not know, the ILO is an association where the parties to the labor market, i.e., employers and employees, and the governments of different states meet and adopt conventions and recommendations in the field of labor law.
When I was in Geneva and, in addition to the parties from the Swedish labor market, met parties from all over the world and representatives for governments, it was a question that cropped up quite many times when they realized that I was Swedish. I cannot answer as to when they realized it, but the question that kept recurring was: Why has Sweden not ratified ILO Convention 190? I received the question several times during the days in Geneva.
I could not answer. I do not know what the obstacle is, and it does not become much clearer here today. It is pleasing to hear that there is still a positive approach and that the issue is being prepared in the Government Offices, but it does not become clearer what it is that is causing this to drag on. The investigation has been ready with the government for a while now.
As Member Haraldsson mentioned, Sweden voted for the convention when it was addressed in 2019, so there should be no political reasons not to ratify it. I have also not experienced, neither today nor in previous discussions, that there are any political or ideological reasons behind this. It does make one wonder what it is that prevents the convention from being ratified.
I want to urge the government to process this as quickly as possible. I hope that they do. This is an important issue and an important convention, and it is important that Sweden really takes the lead in these types of international contexts, especially considering that we unfortunately now see that a number of countries that previously had that role are increasingly backing away from international cooperation.
Sofia Amloh (S)
Madam Speaker! We see a working life that tends to deteriorate. It is becoming incredibly harsh on our labor market. In all sorts of reports in recent years, among others, a number of trade unions have pointed out that it is worsening and that the climate is hardening. Handelsanställdas förbund and Kommunal have in a number of reports shown how tough it is on the Swedish labor market and that solitary work can lead to just that type of vulnerability, threat, and violence that occurs and not least harassment in the broad sense. As the interpellator Johanna Haraldsson touched upon, young women with often quite insecure employment are also subjected to sexual harassment to a much higher degree than we perhaps think in Sweden 2025. But that is the case.
It is incredibly tough. It is hardening and ongoing all the time in many more places than we perhaps think. I know that both experts, authorities, and trade unions point to a fairly large change and increase when it comes to threats, violence, and harassment in our workplaces. It is not going in the right direction, if we say so. It is not the case that it is decreasing, that we are getting a better climate in our workplaces, that it has become easier to handle this, or that it occurs to a lesser extent than before. That is not the trend we see, but rather the exact opposite.
In these times, when we see a labor market with that development, I think that one needs to take even clearer and more measures and come back to the question that this debate is about: ILO 190. We have asked the government about this a number of times since it took office. I want to assert that when we handed over government power, we handed over a set table to the government when it comes to precisely ILO 190. The government could simply take over and present a bill and a proposition to us in the Riksdag on implementing it in Swedish legislation.
Now we stand here and are about to, in a couple of weeks, open the final parliamentary session of the mandate period. I usually, Madam Speaker, normally have a list on my desk of which legislative proposals the government intends to implement during the upcoming parliamentary session. I expect that I will have such a list this time as well. Given the positive attitude, that no other obstacles are reported, and that the issue has been prepared in the Government Offices for quite some time now, I expect that it should be included on the list of government bills that we will receive in about two weeks.
It would not be to anticipate the events too much if the Minister were to say that the question will be on the list when I get to my desk in two weeks. Will it be there? Will this be implemented during the parliamentary session?
Arbetsmarknadsministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! I believe we are in complete agreement that violence and harassment in the workplace are unacceptable phenomena. As I have mentioned previously, the work for everyone's right to a working life free from violence and harassment is a priority issue for this government. No one should have to be subjected to violence or harassment in their workplace.
ILO Convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace aims to protect workers and other persons in the world of work from violence, harassment, sexual harassment and violence and harassment based on sex and is a significant step in the work to counter violence and harassment in the workplace both globally and nationally.
One should see this in the light of the fact that the government is continuously following the developments in the labor market. If the government has seen that there have been structural problems that must be addressed, it has worked out proposals for such measures. One example is the bill that I previously mentioned regarding stronger protection for public employees against violence, threats, and harassment.
A special investigator has investigated whether Swedish law is compatible with the convention referred to. In the report, the special investigator makes the assessment that Swedish law is already compatible with the convention. And last spring, in March 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision to urge all member states to ratify the convention.
There is already a clear regulatory framework within the Work Environment Act. As we have discussed here today, it is and will continue to be the systematic and preventive work environment work, as well as the employer's responsibility for the work environment, that is the basis for a good work environment. It shall be a natural part of the operations for all employers, both large and small.
It is judged to be important from both a national and an international perspective that Sweden ratifies ILO Convention 190. A Swedish ratification would contribute to underlining and confirming everyone's right to a working life free from violence and harassment. The convention is, as stated, a significant step in the work, both globally and nationally.
Johanna Haraldsson (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Employment, for the not very clear but still quite clear and positive messages in this matter!
That the government has proceeded with the proposals to strengthen the protection for public employees is good. We Social Democrats stand wholeheartedly behind the new legislation. It is perhaps not strange, given that it was we who appointed the inquiry that forms the basis for the new rules having been put in place.
The reinforced protection is largely about increased penalties. That is good. But it targets what happens after someone has already been subjected to something, when the damage has already occurred. The work that prevents and stops employees from being subjected to [harassment/abuse] is not affected by that legislation. The preventive work in the workplaces needs to be strengthened. We agree that we have good legislation, but in the workplaces, people do not always do exactly what they are supposed to.
We Social Democrats have proposed to limit solitary work in operations where the risk of threats and violence is particularly high. Working alone makes employees more vulnerable and increases the risks.
Several trade unions, including Seko, Handels, as my colleague said here earlier, and also Kommunal, have highlighted the same need. The systematic work environment work needs to be strengthened. The risk assessments must become better and the measures more accurate. This is what we say over and over again. But we also need to take measures to ensure that it actually becomes so. Broader knowledge among employers is required regarding how threats and violence can be prevented and managed.
We Social Democrats have also proposed something that has also been investigated and is clear: that more deficiencies in the working environment shall be subject to sanctions. It shall have consequences if employers do not work systematically and preventatively.
The ratification of ILO 190 is an important signal, but more must be done. I would therefore like to ask the Minister for Employment if he shares the view that lone work in risky environments is a problem and if he is prepared to act. What measures may be needed to strengthen the employer's knowledge regarding threats, violence, and harassment? What other concrete measures is the government looking at to reduce threats and violence in working life?
But above all, I want to return to the main question. When will the government present a proposal to the Riksdag regarding the ratification of ILO 190?
Adrian Magnusson (S)
Madam Speaker! I completely share the Minister for Employment's view that it is important for Sweden to ratify this convention. Something I have learned during my visits to the ILO's conference of governments of work is that Sweden is seen as and is an important actor in these issues.
Sweden is a role model when it comes to many of the labor law issues and how we have historically chosen to solve labor law problems in this country. This means that many countries around the world look up to Sweden and expect Sweden to lead the way and act in these issues.
I completely share the Minister for Employment's view that Sweden's ratification would truly underscore how important the convention is. Therefore, I hope that the Minister and the Kristersson government will as soon as possible return to the Swedish Parliament with some kind of bill or whatever is now required for the convention to be able to be ratified.
I also want to urge the Minister for Employment to, if the opportunity arises, visit the ILO's labor conference in Geneva, for it is truly a very rewarding experience, in my opinion.
I will try to soften the question that was asked here regarding when a proposal will be submitted and instead ask it like this: Does the Minister judge that the risk is imminent that we will need to stand here at the end of the next parliamentary session and have a similar interpellation debate, or does the Minister believe that the risk is less imminent or perhaps even non-existent?
Sofia Amloh (S)
Madam Speaker! We have debated the very important issue of the working environment in its entirety and, above all, the part that concerns threats, violence, and harassment. We have boiled it down to the fact that we need to fulfill the commitments that we have said we will fulfill, both nationally and internationally, when it comes to implementing ILO Convention 190. I also hear in this debate that the government member thinks this is good and important and that it could be in its place. I believe I hear that it would serve these issues well on the labor market if it were put in place.
I have heard the government say this earlier during the term. Therefore, our question is not unreasonable, now that we are so in agreement and think something is so good. I therefore want to particularly emphasize, Madam Speaker, that it would be good for the government and provide the right amount of goodwill to do this. We would not be upset. I do not think many others would be particularly upset either, but it would rather land in very good soil.
I want to return to the question and get a somewhat clearer statement. I don't think it was such a clear statement as to whether anything will happen during this mandate period. Will a proposal be laid before the Riksdag during the coming year?
If we cannot get an answer today, I am becoming a little worried. One should have come so far in the preparation of the issue in the Government Offices that it is time to be able to say something about it. Is it coming, or is it not? It is not a very difficult question. Given that time is running out in this mandate period, I expect a somewhat clearer answer.
Arbetsmarknadsministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! Let me point out the fact that there is a clear regulatory framework today through the Work Environment Act. It is and will continue to be the systematic and preventive work environment work, which several have raised here today, as well as the employer's responsibility for the work environment, that is the basis for a good work environment.
Today's working life is characterized by a series of global changes and factors that in different ways affect the conditions. This includes, among other things, crime and employees' vulnerability to threats, pressure, harassment, and violence. We have increasing digitalization and development of new technology, remote work, work-related stress, internationalization, green transition, and so on.
I want to highlight the work that is currently taking place in the Government Offices. On the occasion that the current work environment strategy is expiring, we received an investigation report in June with a proposal for a new work environment strategy. The purpose of the assignment has been to indicate the direction for the government's work environment policy with a focus on meeting all the challenges and opportunities that the changed working life, which I have just described, entails.
The investigation has analyzed the impact of the current work environment strategy with a particular focus on the strategy's sub-goals and assessed that these are appropriately designed. With these as a starting point, the investigation has submitted a proposal for a new work environment strategy for the period 2026–2030, including which sub-goals should apply, and has also proposed continued measures for the period that can contribute to the strategy gaining traction in working life in a long-term sustainable way.
Johanna Haraldsson (S)
Madam Speaker! It is very good with a new work environment strategy. It was actually not quite what I had expected from this government. I am pleasantly surprised that the Tidö government is moving forward with a new work environment strategy. I have also understood that the work to develop it has been good and successful and has taken place in broad dialogue.
I really hope that a new strategy will be the starting point for real action when it comes to the work environment work and that we actually see more propositions and proposals from the government based on the action plans and the strategy that is now being developed.
I would like to thank the Minister for Employment for this debate, but I also want to return to the fact that this issue is not controversial. Everyone agrees that there are no obstacles to ratifying Convention 190. Everyone signs on to the fact that threats and violence in the workplace are unacceptable. Everything is clear. It is what one usually calls a low-hanging fruit, something that does not require any great effort. Ratifying the convention sends a clear signal from the government and the Riksdag that violence and harassment in the workplace are unacceptable and must be combated.
The government has not prioritized the ratification of ILO Convention 190. It is obvious. Despite talk of preventive work and the importance of systematic work environment work, no measures have been taken to further strengthen this work in our workplaces. Time and again, the appearance has been given that something is intended to be done, which is then not delivered. This is perceived by me as unserious and sluggish. It is not exactly so that propositions are pouring out from the Ministry of Employment, so why not pick the low-hanging fruit and submit the question of ratification to the Riksdag?
Arbetsmarknadsministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! I am pleased to hear that it is perceived that there are good vibrations surrounding the work currently underway with the upcoming work environment strategy. During the work, the commission has had eleven meetings with representatives for the labor market parties, in addition to the meetings in the commission's reference group, as well as four meetings with the parties' knowledge organizations Prevent, Suntarbetsliv, and Afa Försäkring. Strengths that are highlighted are that it is not too detailed but gives room for the authorities in the area to prioritize within it and that it covers important areas. The broadening of the zero vision, which we debated earlier today here, as well as the fact that it clearly points out cooperation between parties, authorities, and the government, is perceived as very positive.
I must return to my previous answer. The question regarding the ratification of convention 190 is being prepared in the Government Offices.
I genuinely want to thank the interpellor Johanna Haraldsson for the question and for the commitment. We agree that the work for everyone's right to a working life free from violence and harassment is a priority issue for Swedish politics and for this government.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.