On 16 July 1998, the Swedish Government appointed Inga Åkerlund as the fourth president of the Labour Court. The decision means that the Court will have as many female as male presidents for the first time since it was instituted in 1928. The other presidents are Michaël Koch, Hans Tocklin and Carina Gunnarsson.
From autumn 1998, the Swedish Labour Court will for the first time have as many female as male presidents, with men and women each making up two of the four.
On 16 July 1998, the Swedish Government appointed Inga Åkerlund as the fourth president of the Labour Court. The decision means that the Court will have as many female as male presidents for the first time since it was instituted in 1928. The other presidents are Michaël Koch, Hans Tocklin and Carina Gunnarsson.
Apart from the presidents, the Court consists of four vice-presidents and 17 lay judges all of whom have specialist knowledge of industrial relations and labour market issues. Of the latter, 14 are appointed by employers' associations and trade unions.
Originally the Labour Court's only task was to settle disputes on the interpretation of collective agreements. Today, it settles all kinds of disputes between employers and their employees - for example, regarding dismissals or alleged sex discrimination. The fact that the majority of the judges are men has sometimes been used to explain why the Court has dismissed many complaints regarding sex discrimination. Despite the fact that from 1 October 1998 there will be as many female as male presidents, women will still constitute a minority of the judges in the Court.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1998), Woman appointed president of the Labour Court, article.
