Labour market

Today, Tuesday, Minister for Employment Eva Nordmark took part in a meeting with ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss issues such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market.

Several measures taken to support Swedish jobs and businesses through the crisis will be extended. These include short-term lay-offs, deferral of tax payments, reorientation support and turnover-based support to sole traders. The proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Yesterday, the European Commission presented a proposal for a framework for adequate minimum wages across EU Member States. The Government welcomes the fact that the proposal will not impose an obligation on Sweden to introduce a statutory minimum wage or make collective agreements universally applicable.

In the Budget Bill for 2021, the Government proposes a permanent increase of SEK 30 million in the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s administrative appropriation. This will better enable the Swedish Work Environment Authority and other agencies to work in a focused and collaborative manner to continue to fight fraud, regulatory non-compliance and crime in the Swedish labour market. The Government’s proposal is based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

In the Budget Bill for 2021, the Government proposes labour market initiatives worth more than SEK 9 billion. The Government’s proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Global warming continues regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic. Climate change will remain the defining issue of our generation. The Government is therefore proposing investments of SEK 9.7 billion in green recovery initiatives in the Budget Bill for 2021. The Government’s proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Minister for Employment Eva Nordmark has urged the Belarusian Government to fully respect workers’ rights and freedoms and to release the detained trade unionists.

The Government has decided how the Green jobs initiative is to be implemented. The initiative covers the entire country and during the autumn 608 placements are planned for people who are far from the labour market. One aim of the Green jobs initiative is to alleviate unemployment linked to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.

The Government proposes a capital injection of SEK 150 million to Lernia AB in the amending budget to be presented to the Riksdag today. This capital injection will give Lernia the conditions to strengthen its financial standing to be able to continue its activities in the area of adult education and staffing.

Minister for Employment Eva Nordmark, together with Denmark’s Minister for Employment Peter Hummelgaard, has sent a letter to European Commissioner Nicolas Schmit. In the letter, they urge the EU to safeguard the Nordic model, in which trade unions and employers negotiate wages.