Inside Sweden: Northvolt's foreign staff, 'track changes' and... and... atchoo!
I'm writing this with what is just a cold, but feels more like one of the worst kinds of hangovers from my university days. Is it just me or does everyone have a cold right now?
We've had a couple of turbulent weeks on The Local Sweden's editorial team, with me vabbing, Becky going to Brussels, Richard attending the Swedish Journalism Union's annual congress and so on – hopefully we've still managed to bring you the news you need!
There's a Swedish word, vabruary or vabruari, which refers to VAB (staying at home to care for a sick child) and the month of February, which is usually when all the winter bugs really hit. But this year they seem to have had a delayed peak. At least spring is now on its way, although I guess readers with pollen allergies will be less than happy about that.
It's been a turbulent week for Swedish business as well, after Northvolt filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday. A shocking, albeit not surprising, decision after the events of the past year.
When the battery maker announced its layoffs last year, I wrote an opinion piece arguing that Sweden needs to rethink the three-month window laid-off work permit holders have to secure a new job before they're forced to leave Sweden. At the time, a spokesperson for the migration minister said extending the deadline wasn't being considered as an option.
The government has so far been reluctant to be drawn on the question of whether or not the three-month deadline might be extended to help keep foreign talent in the country.
'Too early to say,' said Labour Minister Mats Persson.
Business Minister Ebba Busch appeared to at least not close the door completely.
'We will return to the rules, they are as they are today, there are some exceptions today regarding the 90 days, but it is an issue that my ministerial colleague Johan Forssell will return to – whether there is reason to change the rules,' she told the Norran newspaper.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell has at the time of writing, and as far as I can see, not yet said anything on the matter, but I've sent a request for a comment to his press office.
In other news
Speaking of talent attraction, The Local's publisher James Savage this week called Forssell out on not inviting a single foreigner to his expert group tasked with working out what might make Sweden more attractive to highly-skilled foreigners. After all, as one reader pointed out in the comments, it would be almost unthinkable for a senior Moderate minister to set up an all-male business council to talk about women's issues.
A decision to abolish so-called 'track changes' from April 1st could lead to thousands of former asylum seekers currently on work permits having to leave Sweden. We're getting lots of questions from readers about what exactly this means for them, and have been in touch with the Migration Agency to hopefully interview one of their officials next week.
Sweden is planning to ban pupils from having phones in schools. This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features Katie Dodd Syk, an American in Sweden and co-founder of Smartphone Free Childhood Sverige.
adding that developments in the US could see it worsen.
And speaking of the US, we're asking US citizens what their fellow Americans should consider before moving to Sweden. If that's you, you can still fill out the survey here.
A political scandal is looming for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson after his former national security adviser (and friend) was charged with carelessness with secret information.
Do you use Whatsapp? My Swedish friends use Messenger and most of my foreign friends in Sweden use Whatsapp, but I don't know if that's generally true? Whatsapp is threatening to pull out of Sweden if a new law is passed which would allow the police and security services to read even encrypted communication in chat apps and emails.
Next week you can start filing your Swedish taxes.
To end on a happy and hopeful note, we asked The Local's readers to share what they love most about spring in Sweden and reading their answers brought a smile to my face.
Have a good weekend,
Emma Löfgren
Editor, The Local Sweden
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