Latest news with #ConfederationofSwedishEnterprise
Local Sweden
07-08-2025
- Business
- Local Sweden
Can Sweden really attract global talent while making citizenship harder?
Sweden's migration minister, Johan Forssell, has yet to explain how Sweden can attract highly skilled foreign workers at the same time as making citizenship rules ever stricter, argues Eric Peterson, the US software engineer behind a recent petition. Advertisement Migration Minister Johan Forssell recently claimed in SvD that the opposition lacks answers to questions the government is addressing with tougher citizenship requirements. But the question he himself should answer is how the government intends to reconcile these restrictions with its ambition to attract highly skilled foreign workers to Sweden. In the debate on labor migration, two crucial perspectives exist: employers and their need for expertise, and the foreign professionals meeting this need. The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise has repeatedly warned that the government's tightening measures, especially higher salary requirements, risk hindering Sweden's long-term growth. Only now is the government beginning to acknowledge that message. Despite repeated attempts, the government has yet to acknowledge concerns expressed by foreign workers. Our opinion pieces and our official response to the government's citizenship inquiry—signed by nearly 400 labour migrants in the tech sector—have gone unanswered. READ ALSO: Foreign tech workers campaign against new Swedish citizenship law In an interview with Sveriges Radio in January, Forssell made it clear, 'Only Swedish citizens have the unconditional right to stay in the country.' Advertisement We are well aware of this. Any shift in policy, economy, or at our employers could force us to leave Sweden at great personal and financial cost. A former Northvolt employee said it best in an interview with Norran last month: "There's nothing that beats stability when you're an immigrant abroad. If you don't have that, you're still in a fight or survival mode." That is exactly why the government's proposal to extend the residency requirement for citizenship—from five to at least eight years—is so problematic. It means nearly a quarter of a working life would be spent in legal and economic limbo. At the same time, developments in other European countries are moving in the opposite direction. Where does the government think highly skilled workers would prefer to settle: Sweden, with stricter rules, or Germany, where one can now obtain citizenship after five years—or as low as three with exceptional integration? To make matters worse, Forssell has argued that no transitional rules should apply. That means people who arrived five years ago, followed all regulations, and paid taxes could suddenly be denied citizenship simply because of the Migration Agency's lengthy processing times. Advertisement Increased economic and legal uncertainty will drive skilled workers to countries offering greater stability. Jobs they would have taken in Sweden will remain unfilled. For those already here, changing the rules in the middle of the game doesn't just undermine trust—it severs the fragile link between high-skilled migrants and Swedish society. That risks not just failed integration, but a real brain drain. Sweden naturally has the right to reform its laws. But the Swedish people deserve a government whose reforms are well thought out, economically sustainable, and strengthen Sweden's long-term competitiveness.
Fibre2Fashion
13-06-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
India, Sweden deepen trade and innovation partnership
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal held a series of substantive engagements with senior members of the Swedish government and industry leaders on his two-day official visit to Stockholm. The visit aimed at further deepening the bilateral economic relationship, enhancing trade and investment flows, and exploring new avenues of cooperation in emerging sectors. In his official interactions, Goyal met with Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, and Håkan Jevrell, State Secretary for Foreign Trade. Discussions focused on expanding the scope of India–Sweden trade and investment partnership, facilitating sustainable industrial collaboration, and identifying key areas for technology and innovation-driven growth. During his Stockholm visit, Indian minister Piyush Goyal advanced Indiaâ€'Sweden economic ties through meetings with government officials and industry leaders. Key discussions focused on trade, innovation, sustainability, and investment. Swedish firms showed strong interest in expanding in India, reinforcing a shared commitment to deeper, future-oriented collaboration. The 21st session of the India–Sweden joint commission for economic, industrial and scientific cooperation was held during the visit. The agenda included strategic cooperation in innovation and research and a roundtable discussion on strengthening the India–Sweden economic partnership. The meeting witnessed participation from key Swedish institutions including LeadIT, Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish National Space Agency, the National Board of Trade, the Swedish Export Credit Agency, Business Sweden, and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in India. Both sides underscored their shared commitment to advancing joint projects in green transition, advanced technologies, and resilient supply chains, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press release. Goyal also addressed the India–Sweden business leaders' roundtable, where he interacted with key members of Swedish industry. He invited companies to enhance their footprint in India by taking advantage of the country's enabling regulatory environment, growing consumer base, skilled talent pool, and well-developed industrial infrastructure. The roundtable served as a platform for strengthening private-sector collaboration in clean energy, smart manufacturing, mobility, life sciences, and digital technologies. The minister participated in the India–Sweden high-level Trade and Investment Policy Forum at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise. The forum brought together business leaders and policy-makers from both sides to discuss the evolving trade architecture and opportunities under the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement. Presentations were made by CII and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise. CEOs from leading companies shared their views on enhancing value-chain partnerships, technology transfers, and investment facilitation. A number of one-on-one meetings were held with Swedish companies from sectors such as automation, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, maritime technology, and advanced materials. Several companies conveyed strong confidence in the Indian economy and expressed intent to scale their presence through new investments, capacity expansion, and deeper localisation. Areas of support discussed included facilitation in land access, skilling partnerships, and fast-track clearances. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)
Local Sweden
09-06-2025
- Business
- Local Sweden
Swedish companies aren't feeling confident about hiring more staff in the year ahead
Swedish businesses remain pessimistic about their hiring prospects in the near future, with only one in four believing they will have more employees within a year, a survey suggests. Advertisement The economic downturn and continued uncertainty about United States President Donald Trump's postponed trade tariffs are still causing concern among Swedish businesses. The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv) quizzed nearly 6,000 companies on their views on the current situation as part of their business panel. When asked whether they think their staff will increase over the next year, six out of ten companies still believe they will remain unchanged, and one in ten believe they will have fewer employees – unchanged from the previous survey in the first quarter of the year. And when it comes to investments, 52 percent assess the situation as unchanged. The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise also predicts that Sweden's Riksbank will decide to lower the key interest rate this week, followed by another cut after the summer.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From Pensions to Parental Leave: Sweden's 2025 Benefits System Explained
Explore comprehensive insights into Sweden's employee benefits, covering state, compulsory, and private offerings. Delve into the roles of key institutions like Försäkringskassan, understand the dual social security system framework, and gain strategic insights for informed decision-making. Get your guide to Sweden's welfare landscape. Dublin, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Employee Benefits in Sweden 2025" report has been added to report provides in-depth industry analysis, information, and insights of the employee benefits in Sweden, including an overview of the state and compulsory benefits in Sweden, detailed information about the private benefits in Sweden, insights on various central institutions responsible for the administration of the different branches of social security and the regulatory framework of the employee benefits in Swedish social security system is an integral part of the country's welfare system and is classified into two types: the universal and social insurance system (old system) and unified social insurance, and the individual notional and mandatory individual accounts system (new system), which was established in 1999. The new insurance system covers persons born in or after 1954, while individuals born in or before 1937 are covered by the old system. Except for the earnings-related part of unemployment insurance, the social security regime is compulsory and covers everyone who lives or works in Sweden. To access all these social benefits, an individual requires a personnummer (a Swedish personal identity number) from the Swedish Tax Agency and must register with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Forsakringskassan) for a social security Highlights The Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Forsakringskassan), Swedish Pensions Agency (Pensionsmyndigheten), County Councils (Landstingsfullmaktige), Ministry of Employment (Arbetsmarknadsdepartementet), and Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Socialdepartementet) are responsible for the functioning of the overall social security system in Sweden. A person's national insurance contribution is determined based on their income. An insured person who is unemployed or unable to work and whose benefits have been exhausted is entitled to a credited contribution. In Sweden, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO), the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, and the Council for Negotiation and Co-operation (PTK) sign collective agreements offering voluntary DB pension schemes in Sweden. This report provides a detailed analysis of employee benefits in Sweden: It offers a detailed analysis of the key government-sponsored employee benefits, along with private benefits It covers an exhaustive list of employee benefits, including retirement benefits, long-term disability benefit, short-term disability benefit, medical benefits, workmen's compensation insurance, maternity and paternity benefits, family benefits, long-term care benefits, minimum resources benefits, unemployment benefits, leaves and holidays and private benefits It highlights the economic and regulatory situations relating to employee benefits in Sweden Reasons to Buy Make strategic decisions using in-depth information related to employee benefits in the country Assess employee benefits of the market, including state and compulsory benefits and private benefits Gain insights into the key employee benefit schemes offered by private employers in the country Gain insights into key organizations governing employee benefits market, and their impact on companies Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary2. Introduction3. Country Statistics4. Overview of Employee Benefits in Sweden5. Regulations6. State and Compulsory Benefits6.1 Retirement Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.2 Death in Service Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.3 Long-Term Disability Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.4 Short-Term Disability Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.5 Medical Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.6 Workers' Compensation insurance Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.7 Maternity and Paternity Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.8 Other Benefits Unemployment Benefit Family Benefit Minimum Resources Benefit Long-Term Care Benefits Leaves and Holidays 7. Private Benefits7.1 Retirement Benefits7.2 Death Benefits7.3 Disability Benefits7.4 Medical Benefits7.5 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefits7.6 Other Benefits For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
Local Sweden
29-04-2025
- Business
- Local Sweden
'We need more people to come to Sweden as programmers and technicians'
Sweden's government is planning to step up its efforts to make the country more attractive to highly skilled labour migrants if it wins the next election, Migration Minister Johan Forssell has said in an interview with the Expressen newspaper. Advertisement Asked about his priorities if the government is re-elected and he is reappointed migration minister, Johan Forssell said there would be an increased focus on the economic dimensions of migration. "We are going to keep a grip on this strict asylum policy, but migration is about more than just asylum. It is also about competitiveness," he told the newspaper's Politikrummet podcast. Forssell pointed to the paradox of high unemployment coexisting with acute labour shortages in key sectors. "We have a situation today where at the same time as having an enormous number of people out of work, our world-beating Swedish companies face shortages of important groups, and I think we need more people to come to Sweden as civil engineers, programmers and technicians." He added that the anti-immigration and protectionist policies of U.S. President Donald Trump had created an opening for Sweden to attract foreign talent. 'There's a global race for these individuals, and we see that some are beginning to question whether they want to stay in Silicon Valley,' he said. 'If they're working at a major company and looking elsewhere, why not come to Sweden? But that means we need to raise our game.' Forssell said a recent visit to Finland had left a strong impression, particularly regarding that country's efforts to welcome top international talent. "They have a totally different model there to welcome foreign researchers, and programmers who in reality can choose anywhere in the world as their workplace and I think it would be excellent if more of them chose to come to Sweden." High-skilled workers in Sweden have complained that the government's plans to increase the time foreigners need to be in Sweden to qualify for Swedish citizenship from five years to eight years is making Sweden significantly less attractive, threatening to remove one of the key attractions Sweden has over other competing countries. Advertisement The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise has also calculated that government plans to increase the salary threshold for a work permit to the national median salary would shrink Sweden's economy by about 30 billion kronor a year. The confederation added that the current threshold, at 80 percent of the median salary, had led to labour migration "falling considerably" since it came into force in the autumn of 2023.
