Response to interpellation 2025/26:525 on the government's work in the ILO
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
1 L considers that ILO is important for social justice, productive employment and decent working conditions 1. The Government prioritizes that ILO contributes to good job opportunities, sustainable growth, green transition and increased equality 1. L emphasizes that Sweden is a reliable donor 2 3 and views ILO's reforms for financing positively 1 2. L wants that ILO focuses on green jobs, skills development and entrepreneurship 3 as well as that the Swedish labor market model is exported 4. L requests a clarification about not overriding the parties in the case of reduction of working hours 4. L expresses concern over legislation regarding working hours 4 and wants that ILO promotes women's human rights and economic empowerment 4.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! Adrian Magnusson has asked me what intentions I and the government have had regarding Sweden's role and work in the ILO during the mandate period and how I summarize this work. I would like to begin by thanking Adrian Magnusson for the question.
The ILO's mission and mandate is to promote social justice by working for productive employment and decent working conditions for all. By focusing on the fundamental principles and rights at work and on establishing, promoting, and monitoring international labor standards, the ILO plays an important role in the work of poverty reduction. The organization has a natural strength and legitimacy in that, through its tripartite model, where governments, employers, and workers participate on an equal footing, it relates to other actors on the global arena.
The organization contributes to several of the government's priorities for Sweden's international development cooperation, including poverty reduction through job creation, economic development, equality, human rights and green transition. The government's priorities for the cooperation with ILO are that ILO's work contributes to creating more good jobs and improved livelihood opportunities in order to promote conditions for sustainable growth and green transition, as well as that ILO's work contributes to increased equality and equal treatment in working life.
As a major donor to the ILO, the government considers the ILO's role in a results-oriented, coordinated and effective UN to be important. The government wants to see a UN that delivers results at the country level in both development and humanitarian contexts as well as in conflict and crisis contexts, and which is characterized by effective use of resources through cost savings and streamlining of operations. The government also works to ensure that the UN mobilizes other resources, strengthens local ownership, and utilizes innovative partnerships and financing tools.
The Government views positively that the ILO carries out reforms to adapt its operations to current circumstances and the funding situation, with a particular focus on the organization's core mandate.
Sweden has, among other things, influence in the ILO through its place in the Nordic constituency, which holds a seat on the organization's governing body.
On 19 February 2026, the government submitted a bill with a proposal for the approval of ILO Convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace and ILO Convention 191 on a safe and healthy working environment (prop. 2025/26:134). An approval makes it possible for the government to ratify the conventions.
By ratifying the conventions, Sweden clearly marks that everyone has the right to a working life free from violence and harassment and that a safe working environment is a fundamental right in working life. This shows that we both in Sweden and internationally support the global work for safer and more secure working environments.
The Government's intention is to continue to contribute to the organization's work throughout the entire mandate period.
Adrian Magnusson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for Employment for the answer to my interpellation.
I am pleased that the government values the work that takes place in the ILO. The ILO is an important organization for workers' rights around the world and an important part of the United Nations, which in turn is an important and undervalued organization in the world we live in. The UN's organs need to be highlighted to a greater extent. The UN organs are the friends of the small and medium-sized countries, and those countries need to be these organs' friends and protect them.
I do not know if the Minister had the privilege of visiting the negotiations during the ILO's latest conference, which concluded today. I myself have had the privilege twice – though not this year – to visit the conference in my role as a Member of Parliament. There, I have been able to see on-site that the work carried out by the parties and by governments all around the world is extremely important.
Madam Speaker! Now, unfortunately, it is not the case that all countries around the world stand up for a fair and bearable working life. In connection with my visit to the conference last year, it became clear that the political developments in several countries have led to significantly changed priorities. It is very clear that this applies to the USA. The new administration there had last year changed the American priorities significantly compared to the priorities the year before. New alliances, which a few years ago would have appeared foreign, had also emerged between the USA and other countries in the ILO.
When workers' rights are under threat from various parts of the world, it is important that Sweden continues to stand up for wage earners' rights. The Swedish model of cooperation, with a relatively good tone of dialogue between the parties and the government, is also beneficial in such a context. We can lead by example in our actions, and through our actions, we can also try to create a united front to show that there are other paths to take. Wage earners' rights do not have to move in a negative direction. It is possible to achieve dialogue and consensus.
Regardless of which government takes office after the election this autumn, it is my hope that that government continues to play an important role in the ILO and in similar contexts. As I mentioned earlier, these forums are important for countries like Sweden. We need to stand up for them and safeguard them while simultaneously pushing for progressive values and reforms when we are in these forums.
Madam Speaker! I am pleased that the Minister specifically addresses ILO Convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace and Convention 191 on a safe and healthy working environment. It took some time and a few interpellation debates before the government submitted a bill to the Riksdag, but it was pleasing that it was submitted to and voted through by the Riksdag.
Unfortunately, the government parties did not show the same interest during the proceedings in the chamber, as they abstained from participating in the chamber's debate. However, I am pleased that the minister is clear about the importance of these two conventions and that he highlights them when we discuss the ILO. That Sweden has not ratified these conventions has come up many times in the context of the ILO. Now, however, Sweden has done so, and it is welcome.
Madam Speaker! The work in the ILO is ongoing, and several discussions are being held at all times. Right now, the right to strike is an issue being discussed, and after a ruling from the International Court, the question has gained renewed relevance. We will have to see where the question leads. Regardless of the outcome of the election in the autumn, it is my hope that the government that takes office then stands up for sound, Swedish values, both when it comes to the right to strike and when it comes to other issues that the ILO handles.
This is a time when workers' rights are being questioned and when we in several countries see a development with conflicts between, for example, governments and trade unions. I would therefore like to ask the Minister to further elaborate on what I described in the interpellation. How has the government acted in the ILO, and can the government point to any clear gains for Sweden and the Swedish view on the labor market model through the work performed in the ILO?
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! He who waits for something good never waits for too long.
Sweden is a long-standing and trusted partner to the ILO. The Swedish government contributes to an effective implementation of the ILO's strategic plan and to the fulfillment of the goals in that plan.
We are also a major donor to the ILO. Swedish financial support is provided partly in the form of assessed contributions, that is, a so-called membership fee to the ILO, and partly in the form of voluntary contributions provided with earmarking from Sida. Sweden is a reliable partner that always pays on time.
Sweden's membership fee to the ILO in 2025 was just over 40 million kronor. The type of global partnership program that Sida has with the ILO is in its fifth phase and runs from 2022 to 2027. The support for the period amounts to a total of 265 million kronor. In addition to the global thematic support, Sida also has 13 collaborations with the ILO at regional and bilateral levels.
The voluntary contribution from Sida focuses on four cross-cutting areas: equality and non-discrimination, just transition and environmental sustainability, the conflict and humanitarian peace and development nexus, and systemic change for sustainable development.
As a major donor, the government considers the ILO's role in a results-oriented, coherent and effective UN to be important. The government also views positively that the ILO carries out reforms to adapt its operations based on prevailing circumstances and the funding situation, with a particular focus on the organization's core mandate.
Adrian Magnusson (S)
Madam Speaker! I hope that everyone who is interested in Swedish labor law and the history of labor law is well aware that Sweden is a trusted and long-standing partner. One of the initiators of the ILO and one of the leading figures when the ILO was founded once upon a time was the first Social Democratic Prime Minister Hjalmar Branting. He was a frequent visitor to the ILO's conferences in Geneva and placed great emphasis on the work in the ILO.
Both in his response to the interpellation and in his second contribution, the Minister focused somewhat on the ILO's economy and the Swedish contribution to the ILO and said that the government views positively that the ILO carries out reforms to adapt its activities based on current circumstances and the funding situation, with a particular focus on the organization's core mandate. I do not know how to interpret that. I do not know whether the Minister means that the ILO should be narrowed down and focus on something other than what is done today or if he means that the ILO is working on the right things. It is difficult to know what role the government thinks the ILO should play in the future. It may be that I am overinterpreting and that the Minister means that the ILO performs a good job and that it should have the same tasks in the future. But if the Minister says something else between the lines, I look forward to the Minister elaborating on that.
The Minister expressed himself that he who waits for something good never waits for too long. It is good that a government bill was submitted to approve these two conventions, even if it took its time. But we do not need to dwell on it any further. Now it is in place, and that is positive.
I also asked the minister to elaborate on how progress has been made regarding the interests of the Swedish labor market model and the Swedish labor market during the parliamentary term. It would be welcome to hear a bit more about that.
But above all, I ask the Minister to elaborate on why, in his remarks, he placed so much focus on the economic aspects of the ILO rather than how one can advance one's political interests in the ILO.
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! I did it for no other reason than that the ILO's finances are strained. But Sweden is a major donor and has no ambition to reduce this commitment. Furthermore, we always pay on time, unlike some other countries.
One of the priorities that was requested and that the government is driving in the ILO context is that the ILO's work shall contribute to creating more good jobs and improved livelihood opportunities in order to promote conditions for sustainable growth and green transition. Here, it may be appropriate to emphasize the importance of increased access to better functioning markets for people, not least in poverty, but also of efforts that can contribute to the transition from informal to formal economy, efforts that contribute to promoting conditions for micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and efforts that promote entrepreneurship. Also social dialogue and strong and independent workers and workers' organizations play an important role when it comes to creating more good jobs, sustainable growth and green transition.
The Government also considers that the ILO should focus on the creation of green jobs but also on increased access to skills development, apprenticeship training and lifelong learning with a focus on green jobs and digital skills to promote an inclusive and just transition.
Adrian Magnusson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the clarifications.
Just as the Minister says, there are quite a few countries in the UN in general and in the ILO that do not pay their fees on time. Therefore, it is even more important that Sweden is a clear voice for these international organizations. It is my and the Social Democrats' conviction that ever since Sweden became a member of the UN, the UN has been to the benefit of Sweden. The UN is an important forum for small and medium-sized countries in a world where we see how the great powers grab for themselves and increasingly behave as they please. This behavior is not limited to the UN headquarters in New York, but the great powers also behave somewhat as they please in other UN bodies. In that case, it is important that Sweden stands up for having functioning UN bodies, such as the ILO.
I am pleased that the Minister highlighted a number of the priorities that have been considered important during the mandate period. It is no secret that I hope for a change of government, but regardless of which government takes office after the election this autumn, I hope that they will continue to stand up for the ILO and for advancing issues in the ILO.
I also want to highlight that in these contexts, one sees how valuable the Swedish labor market model is. In other countries, there can be full-scale conflict between employers and employees. There, the parties stand far apart and find it difficult to be in the same room. Unfortunately, we also see a growing trend where governments and employees are in clear conflict with one another. In some countries, employee representatives are harassed and imprisoned. Therefore, it is important that in all contexts we can, we continue to highlight the importance of our labor market model, where despite representing different interests, one can sit in the same room, discuss, and actually reach a compromise that can be good for both parties.
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! I share the member's description of how valuable the Swedish labor market model is and that Sweden is an example for other countries in this regard. We would gladly export our model, if there were interest in it.
The Speaker has no further contribution in this debate. But we are about to debate again, and I request a clarification from Adrian Magnusson: Do you promise not to override the parties regarding the reduction of working hours? If one does, one risks sinking the Swedish labor market model. I am genuinely concerned about the discussions taking place in Vänsterpartiet and Socialdemokraterna about the legislative path intervening in a central component, namely the issue of working hours, which the parties have the responsibility to resolve.
At some point, today or later, I would therefore be very pleased with a clarification from Adrian Magnusson on this issue.
Let me also highlight another priority issue for the government in our work in the ILO, namely equality and equal treatment. It is important that the ILO's work contributes to increasing both equality and equal treatment in working life. This includes, among other things, initiatives that promote women's enjoyment of human rights and strengthen women's self-determination, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities, such as female entrepreneurship. We believe that the ILO should also prioritize this.
I thank you for this debate and look forward to the next one.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.