Certain professional groups, including nurses, will be exempted from the new, tougher rules for work permits. The government announced this at a press conference on Friday. The salary requirement of approximately SEK 33,390 per month has been heavily criticized by both the business community and healthcare workers. The organization Företagarna has called it "socioeconomic idiocy."
Now the Migration Board and the Swedish Public Employment Service will produce a list of shortage occupations in Sweden that should be exempted.
Unclear message
High capacity in healthcare and social care must be safeguarded when the list of shortage occupations is determined. That means that for certain healthcare and social care occupations there is a particular reason to have a lower salary requirement, so as not to lose personnel in those activities, said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) on Friday.
The exceptions will be presented in two weeks' time.
The government did not specify what "certain professions" meant in this context. The announcement is nevertheless welcomed by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR).
We will see what such an exception might look like, but if welfare professionals are exempted, that is good. Given the shortage of workers in welfare, Sweden will need both those already in the country and those who want to come here from other countries to work, said chairman Anders Henriksson (S).
Safety valve for track change
The Municipal Trade Union also points to the uncertainty in the government's announcement.
"It is difficult to evaluate the new wage floor in healthcare, as it is not stated which professional groups it applies to or what salary will then apply," writes contract secretary Johan Ingskog in a comment.
The government also announced that those who have been granted a temporary work permit through the so-called track change will be able to apply for a new permit on-site in Sweden - provided they meet the salary requirement. Previously, people had to leave the country to apply again.
"The municipality believes it is good that there is a valve in the system for existing track switches," says Ingskog.
