The issue of language requirements for employees in elderly care is one of the points in the Tidö Agreement between the government and the Sweden Democrats. However, the government's investigators concluded that it is not possible to set an absolute requirement for good Swedish for all employees, as large parts of elderly care would then have problems finding staff.
Instead, the requirement is placed on the employer, who "must work to ensure" that the staff speaks good Swedish, including through individual plans for newly recruited and existing employees who need to improve their language skills.
“Life-threatening”
The government is now moving forward with the investigator's proposal.
Good language skills among the staff are a prerequisite for patient safety, because if you don't understand each other, it literally means a life-threatening situation, says Anna Tenje.
Good Swedish means level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This is halfway between beginner level and advanced level.
It is a necessary level to be able to provide good care, and it is a realistic level, says Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed (KD).
Studies during working hours
SD's Jessica Stegrud emphasizes that the ultimate goal is that everyone who works in elderly care should speak good Swedish.
But the transition must happen gradually. This is a reasonable and realistic level and it is a pragmatic way to actually move forward, she says.
Municipalities can use money from the so-called elderly care lift to finance the training. This provides, among other things, the opportunity to study Swedish during working hours.
The government proposes that the new rules will come into effect on July 1, 2026.
