European work

The international work of the Swedish Work Environment Authority (SWEA) is mainly EU related. Above all it consists of participation in committees and working groups concerned with the drafting of directives, questions of interpretation and implementation of directives and exchange of experience and information about questions related to the working environment. SWEA is for example responsible for the reports to the Commission on the practical implementation of directives in the area of the working environment.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (located in Bilbao, Spain) collect, analyse and promote information related to occupational safety and health, primarily in the EU. The Swedish Work Environment Authority is the Swedish ‘focal point’ of the Agency and organizes the tripartite network made up of representatives of government, employers and workers. This tripartite structure is reflected in the composition of the Agency's Governing Board and network structures. Extensive information can be found on the web page of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority represents the Swedish Government in the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH). ACSH is an advisory Committee designed to assist the Commission in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of activities in the fields of safety and health at work. Among other things, the Committee comments on proposals for new regulation and evaluates how certain directives have been implemented in the Member States. Employees of SWEA also participate in the permanent and temporary working groups under the Committee. 

The Swedish Work Environment Authority participates in the Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee (SLIC). The Committee is an advisory committee under the Commission and consists of high-ranking directors from the Work Environment Authorities of the Member States or equivalent. The Committee deals with questions concerning Community legislation in the area of the working environment, promote exchange of experience and information among Work Environment Authorities in the EU and in the Candidate countries. Employees of the SWEA also participate in the working groups under the Committee. The Work Programme of the Committee and the Annual Reports of the Work Environment Authorities can be found on the web page of the Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee.

Sweden is one of the 178 Member Countries of the International Labour Organization (ILO, head office in Geneva, Switzerland). The ILO is a UN specialized agency which inter alia formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations (rules) setting minimum standards of basic labour rights. Many of these concern the area of competence of the Swedish Work Environment Authority. Reports on how these rules are followed are regularly being submitted by the Member Countries. An official channel for Sweden’s contact with the ILO is the Swedish ILO Committee with its secretariat at the Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications. SWEA currently hold one of the three chairs representing the Government in the Committee.

Links 
EU strategy for Safety and Health at work, 2007-2012 
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work  
International Labour Organization, ILO