Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Sweden (Ratification: 1949)

The Committee notes with interest from the Government's report that the obligation to refrain from taking industrial action has been restricted through an amendment (1991-741) to the Co-determination Act effective from 15 July 1991, as regards working conditions with international connections. Under this amendment a union organization in Sweden is not prevented from taking industrial action against an employer who is active in Sweden and who is bound by a collective agreement to which the law of another country is applicable and to which the Co-determination Act does not directly apply. This sort of collective agreement generally covers foreign workers who work temporarily in Sweden. According to the Government, this amendment will give a union organization an opportunity to conclude collective agreement on terms corresponding to what is normally applicable to work done in Sweden. The Government explains that the amendment in question aimed at counteracting "social dumping".

The Committee takes note of these indications and considers that the amending Act of 1991 does not conflict with the principles enshrined in the Convention.