The government's new work environment strategy
The government's work environment strategy has a major influence on work environment work in both the public and private sectors, including our universities. 2020 is the last year of the current strategy, “A work environment strategy for modern working life”, which has been in effect since 2016. The government is now determining what the new strategy should contain, and we have a number of requests. We appeal to the government and the Prime Minister Eva Nordmark, who is ultimately responsible, not to forget the student perspective. Unfortunately, it has been deprioritized for a long time. You only have to take a quick look at the alarming figures on students' mental health to understand that a change is needed.
The student perspective
It is well known that students are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems, and SFS has pointed out on several occasions that part of the problem has to do with the fact that work on students' work environment is neglected. Most higher education institutions take their responsibility at a central level, but in many cases the work becomes inadequate further down the organization. We believe that one of the most important steps here and now is to clarify which authority has the overall supervisory responsibility at the national level.
On the one hand, UKÄ has the overall responsibility for supervising the activities of higher education institutions. On the other hand, the Swedish Work Environment Authority is responsible for supervision in the work environment area. We believe that it is clear in the law that the Swedish Work Environment Authority has a responsibility for the students' work environment, yet we have encountered great difficulties in conducting a dialogue with the Swedish Work Environment Authority on these issues. Responsibility is rarely translated into action. Therefore, we believe that the government must make it clear where the responsibility lies. We are open to the government solving the problem in several different ways, but the gray area that currently applies means that the issue ends up between the chairs.
SFS suggests:
- that the government clearly justifies which authority will be responsible for the tasks relating to students' work environment within the framework of the strategy.
- that students become a clearer target group in government assignments and the authorities' work related to the work environment
- that student organizations are included in the dialogues that the government and authorities have with stakeholders in the work environment area.
- Incorporate work against sexual harassment and discrimination as part of the work environment strategy
- The government issues a mandate to the Swedish Work Environment Authority or another appropriate authority regarding knowledge-raising measures on how work with students' work environments can be organized and developed.
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