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Sweden
1 – Legal protection for workers in the case of disability and oncological
conditions
In Sweden, people with cancer (or, more generally, with a chronic disease) and
people with disabilities are on an equal footing in terms of legal protection.
In this connection, the main legal source is the Work Environment Act
(arbetsmiljölagen, the acronym is AML), which was approved by Parliament in 1987,
and subsequently amended. It applies to working students, military personnel,
apprentices, and self-employed workers, providing the legal framework that regulates
their working conditions. Furthermore, the National Board of Occupational Safety
and Health is the authority that has been empowered by the government to provide
detailed provisions, which are published in a special Statute Book (AFS).
The Act provides that “In the case of disability, the employee is entitled to
reassignment and medical rehabilitation, on the basis of an ad hoc plan provided by
the employer” (chap. 3, sect. 2a). The employer is responsible for any measures taken
in favour of sick workers. If they are often absent, or if they absent themselves from
work for more than four weeks, the employer has to set up a rehabilitation plan
together with the local health authority (försäkringskassan), to facilitate their early
return to work. These procedures are an integral part of the company policy, and
competent institutions in charge of carrying out regular checks can require the
employer to provide written documentation of them. In any case “The employer and
the employee will work together to provide a safer working environment…” (chap. 3,
sect. 2a)
There are other important provisions related to this issue, such as the Working
Environment Act (miljöbalken), the Working Time Act (arbetstidslagen), and the
Equal Opportunities Act (Jämställdhetslagen).
Large enterprises also provide a company medical service, even though the law does
not require it. It includes: a doctor, a nurse, a physiotherapist, an industrial hygiene
consultant and, in some cases, a psychologist. Generally speaking, their main task is
to change the working environment according to workers’ needs, also providing sick
employees with medical rehabilitation. They also help people to combat stress, to
organise their working time, and to deal with harassment.
Unions usually appoint a representative, who is responsible for ensuring the safety of
the workers, and who has a strong influence on work place organisation.
Since 2001, Swedish government has launched a plan that promotes occupational
health care, involving the following measures:
- work place organisation;
- the return to work after medical treatment;
- research.
In 2002, a more specific goal in terms of occupational health care was set, aiming at
halving the percentage of sick leave by 2008, also reducing sickness and first job
benefits.
The national administrative authority for issues relating to the working environment
is
the
Swedish
Work
Environment
Authority
(AV)
(http://www.av.se/inenglish/index.aspx). Its main task is to reduce the risks of
sickness and injury at work, promoting a safer working environment. It is in charge
of setting provisions and drawing up statistics on work accidents and work-related
diseases. The AV also monitors the activity of ten Inspectorates for the Environment.
In 1993, the National Board of Occupational Safety and Health issued a new set of
measures that have to be taken in relation to psychological violence in the work place
(in force from March 1994), that is to say against “Any reprehensible action and
hostile attitude taken towards the worker in the work place, that result in his/her
isolation”. Even in this case, it is for the employer to provide the best working
conditions. These provisions represent an effective legal instrument, because they
provide for the first time specific legal protection against mobbing, also involving the
employees and their representatives.
2 – Specific Legal Protection for people with cancer.
Not available
3 – Specific Legal Protection for women with breast cancer
Not available
Administrative procedures related to the above-mentioned points (1,2,3)
The
Stockholm
County
Council
(http://www.sll.se/sll/templates/NormalPage.aspx?id=19) provides medical assistance
(preventive measures and medical treatment) for nearly two million people. Pursuant
to the legal provisions, every county council has to set up a Patients’ Advisory
Committee, which is empowered to provide information, to promote contacts
between the patients and the medical personnel, to report complaints and to give
advice.
- Bargaining
Not Available
- Case Law
Not Available
- National Best Practices
For people with cancer:
The FAS, Forksningsrådet för Arbetsliv och Socialvetenskap, which is the Swedish
Council for Working Life and Social Research, was set up in 2001, through a merger
of the Swedish Council of Social Research and the Swedish Council for Work Life
Research (the latter, which was a centre of excellence in this field of research, was
closed on 1 July 2007). The main objective of the Council is to increase scientific
knowledge on working life issues and to provide scientific information, promoting
basic and applied research at an international level.
In 2001, the National Institute on Public Health, the newspaper Dagens Industry,
Korpen and the Swedish Society against Cancer named Värö Bruk, which is located
60 km south to Gothenburg, Company of the Year in terms of safety. The company
promotes a physical wellbeing programme (providing training courses and sport
events) and a safe working environment, involving workers and making them more
aware of the issue. It also cooperated with Karolinksa Institute, that provided a threeyear Work and Health Plan (AHA), aimed at reducing the percentage of sick leave.
The website http://www.cancersamtal.nu/ provides a discussion forum, a mailing list
and chatroom for people with cancer (in Swedish).
With regard to harassment in the work place suffered by sick workers, Heinz
Leymann, a German professor, has set up a website providing mobbing-related
information, http://www.leymann.se/.
For women with breast cancer:
The Breast Cancer Organisation (BRO - http://www.bro.org.se/english.asp ), is the
leading cancer research organisation. BRO has 10,000 members, and represents 33
local associations. It also brings together the National Council on Health and Safety
in the Work Place, the National Breast Cancer Program, the Swedish Group against
Breast Cancer, providing national guidelines on the issue. BRO is currently headed
by Ingrid Kössler, who is also the chairman of Europadonna. The organisation deals
with mammography screening, which according to National Council directives,
should involve women, especially those aged 40 to 74 years.
BRO also announced an award for those who achieve outstanding results in terms of
medical treatment, and scientific progress, trying to draw the media attention on the
issue.
In this connection, the Pink Ribbon Campaign promoted by BRO has been very
successful (a sum equivalent to about 375,000 euros has been collected), especially
because it has involved many other partners.
In addition, the Breast Cancer Organisation provides scholarships and research
grants, funded by the Swedish Cancer Foundation (Bröstcancerfonden), Elisabeth
Hedins Foundation, and Falck-Löfdahl Foundation.
The list of most of the associations against cancer, as well as their contacts, is
available at
www.bro.org.se
Further Information
Swedish Work Environment Authority (AV)
Address:
Ekelundsvägen 16
SE-171 84 Solna
Telephone: +46-(0)8-730 90 00
Fax: +46-(0)8-730 19 67
Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research
Mailing address:
Box 2220
SE-103 15 Stockholm
Visiting address:
Wallingatan 2 - Stockholm
Tel: +46 8 775 40 70
Fax: +46 8 775 40 75
E-mail:[email protected]
Patients’ Advisory Committee - Stockholm County
Telephone: 08-690 67 00
Telefax: 08-690 67 18
E-mail: [email protected]
Postal address: P. O. Box 17535
118 91 Stockholm
Visiting address: Hornsgatan 15, Stockholm
(Metro: Slussen)
Prevent Sweden - Management and Labour Improving Work Environment
(A leading Swedish scientific and training centre in the field of health and safety)
http://www.prevent.se/in_english/default.asp
P.O. Box 20 133
Ringvägen 100
SE-104 60 Stockholm
Sweden
Phone: +46 8 402 02 00
Fax: +46 8 402 02 50
[email protected]
Arbetsmiljöforum – Swedish Work Environment Association (founded in 1905)
Contact:
Arbetsmiljöforum, Maria Skolgata 83
Address: Box 17550, S-118 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Phone +46 8 442 46 00, Fax +46 8 442 46 08.
[email protected]
Cancer
Center
http://www.karolinska.se/templates/DivisionStart____70673.aspx?epslanguage=SV
Onkologiskt Centrum Karolinska
Universistetssjukhuset, Hus M8:01, 171 76 Stockholm
08-517 746 84
Telefontid: 08.00-16.30 / 08-34 86 40
Statistics:
Analysis of the processed 2006 Eurostat data. Mortality for cancer (standardised
data considering 1.000.000 cases)
Swedish
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
1613
1603
1633
1601
1579
1571
%
0,161%
Variation
0,160%
0,163%
0,160%
0,158%
0,157%
-0,001%
0,003%
-0,003%
-0,002%
-0,001%
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
1579
1549
1555
1557
1546
0,158%
0,155%
0,156%
0,156%
0,155%
0,001%
-0,003%
0,001%
0,000%
-0,001%
2006