Labor market policy and unemployment insurance

Merit Frost Lindberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! In a family, people take care of one another. When the children grow up, the parents are there. When someone falls ill, people help each other. As the children get older, they take on more and more responsibility, while at the same time our elderly should be able to count on us being there for them. The foundation of a family is that everyone helps to the best of their ability. We must also have that norm in our society.

The Swedish welfare model, with a strong safety net and high quality of public service, is based on the fact that everyone who can, works. One person cannot support many, but many can support one. If everyone helps out, we have the means to let the sick be sick and the elderly be elderly, and at the same time give all young people the secure upbringing they deserve.

But we have in Sweden today an all too large proportion of people of working age who do not support themselves and have not done so for many years. Foreign-born individuals have a significantly lower degree of self-sufficiency than domestic-born individuals, and foreign-born women have a particularly weak position in the working life.

In 1971, separate taxation was introduced. This meant that married women became economically independent individuals. Women's self-evident right to support themselves took a major step forward. Effects of income taxation and benefit levels have historically had a decisive importance for women's empowerment and position in the labor market.

A long time ago, a woman's place in Sweden was in the home. She bore many children and took care of the household. That is no longer the case, and we shall not go back there. The backward development that has begun, where foreign-born women become the housewives of the old times, must be reversed. The work line is highly essential from an equality perspective, and it is now time for the next major reform.

The job tax credits implemented by the center-right governments 2006-2014 lowered the thresholds for entering the labor market. Low- and middle-income earners also kept more of their wages. Since then, the work line has been eroded. Now it must be restored.

The Moderate-led government and the coalition parties will therefore present proposals that make it more profitable to work. We will implement a major subsidy reform that creates a significantly larger difference in moving from subsidies to self-sufficiency. The objective is also to lower taxes, primarily for low- and middle-income earners.

Access to personnel with the right competence is crucial for Swedish business. It is a prerequisite not only for companies to be able to develop but also for them to be able to survive. Four out of five jobs are created in small and medium-sized enterprises. Nowhere else do so many people work. But if you ask business owners today, they answer that a shortage of competence is one of the absolute biggest barriers to growth. Despite the fact that we have record-high unemployment, there are too few who can and want to perform the jobs.

Labor market policy needs to become more effective, with measures that make a difference. Therefore, we are investing in more internship placements and more labor market training. This makes it possible to gain work experience and contributes to solving the skills shortage.

Work is also the key to increased integration. We cannot educate away the integration problems in Sweden, because despite spending more money on education, we do not succeed. But we can work away the problems.

One learns a language by practicing it. Integration does not happen within the four walls of the home but at the workplace. Therefore, we are investing in SFI combined with vocational training. We are now also adding extra funds to SFI for Ukrainian citizens to take advantage of their competence.

There are several ongoing initiatives and investigations to increase the establishment of foreign-born women in the labor market. Among other things, the government is investing, together with SKR, in trying to reach out through the open preschool. Proposals to make the parental leave more flexible have we also presented.

Arbetsförmedlingen has a mandate to strengthen support for the long-term unemployed, particularly in areas with socioeconomic challenges. Arbetsförmedlingen also has a mandate to have a purposeful local presence and to provide support to job seekers and employers in cooperation with local actors and municipalities.

We face great challenges today. Inflation remains high, and interest rates are rising. Unemployment, which according to the Social Democratic government was supposed to be the EU's lowest in 2020, instead rose the most in the entire union, and that despite an economic boom. Today, only three EU countries have higher unemployment than Sweden, and we are now in the bottom tier. In the 2014 election campaign, Löfven said: Evaluate us on the jobs!

I now urge the Sweden Democrats and other opposition parties to come to their senses. Imagine a thought where everyone who can works and that no one lives on benefits they do not have to! It would give us the opportunity to create a society where everyone has a place, while at the same time there is room to breathe, grow, and move forward. This is happening now, with the Moderate-led government and the coalition parties, and I want to urge you to support our work.

In conclusion, I would like to move for the approval of the committee's proposal.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the speech. A couple of things need to be commented on. I might start with what the member said at the end regarding the opposition parties. She also urged the Sweden Democrats to act. I perceive it as that the Sweden Democrats have been part of the government base and not part of the opposition. But perhaps the member can say something about that.

I also note that the member mentioned that the work line shall be re-established. It shall be more profitable to work, and taxes shall be lowered. One recognizes the bourgeois right-wing policy from the years 2006-2014. We also know how that went. The consequences were devastating for half a million wage earners in this country. But enough said about that!

The member mentioned Arbetsförmedlingen's local presence and the skills shortage. I intend to ask a question about long-term unemployment, which the member also touched upon. I share the view that there are quite significant challenges in the Swedish labor market today with both the skills shortage and long-term unemployment.

Recently, Arbetsförmedlingen submitted an annual report to the government. The agency stated that more resources are required in order to succeed in enabling more long-term unemployed people to participate in various interventions and obtain employment. They also refer to the fact that during this budget year, they will need more resources to prevent, for example, long-term unemployment.

In view of the fact that the government, together with the Sweden Democrats, whom I consider to be part of the government, reduced labor market policy measures by 7 billion SEK, in comparison with 13 during the high-growth year, I would like to ask if the member believes that Arbetsförmedlingen has sufficient administrative and program resources to fulfill its mandate to reduce, among other things, long-term unemployment, not least in light of what the member touched upon regarding the recession and increased unemployment.

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Merit Frost Lindberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! I must begin by noting that during this afternoon I have heard several members say "we hope" and "we are waiting." But the basis of where we stand now is that you in the Socialdemokraterna were in government for eight years and that we have had a couple of months. You had a goal of the lowest unemployment in the EU, but it became almost the highest. You have explicitly asked to be evaluated on the jobs. There I have a counter-question. It would be interesting to see how you evaluate your own policy. If one at a workplace were given a number of goals to achieve, it would never occur that after eight years one chose to blame a former employee. It is astonishing to hear that the Socialdemokraterna blame what the Moderaterna did before you came into government, which was almost nine years ago, and what we are doing now, even though we have only just begun.

To answer Serkan Köse's specific question: I absolutely see that there is a high probability that Arbetsförmedlingen has sufficient resources to perform the work they have to do. It remains to be seen, however. What can be said already is that they really need to streamline their operations. Furthermore, the funds that have been added have not been spent. It is an unacceptable situation that we today have a skills shortage among companies while we have record-high unemployment. It is not a situation that can continue. We have had empty places in several of the training programs that are requested by business owners. To begin with, Arbetsförmedlingen should see how they can work effectively with what they have today.

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Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the answer!

Again: During eight years with a Social Democratic government, we had a goal. We were to have the EU's lowest unemployment, which the member also mentioned in his speech. For me, it is quite natural. A government should have a goal, a political party should have a goal, and should thereafter work for it. That was the only thing the Social Democratic government did.

Then one can observe, and it also stands in the budget basis from the government, that we have the highest employment rate and the highest labor force participation. It is clear that if one has a high labor force participation, it also affects unemployment.

In comparison with many other EU countries, it can be stated that very many people in Europe do not participate. That means that the figures look different. That discussion can be continued.

It would be interesting to hear: What are the government's employment goals? What goals does the government aim for? We had a goal. What goals does the government have?

Then one can observe that from Arbetsförmedlingen's budget basis, it emerges very clearly what the agency is striving for.

The question is: Do the Moderates not believe in their own expert authority? It says that more resources and more measures are needed to tackle long-term unemployment and to be able to manage the skills supply in Sweden.

Then it concerns the funds that have not been spent. Let us state that from 2006-2014, Arbetsförmedlingen has always sent money back, and even during the Alliance years. From 2006-2014, there has been a large appropriation saving where money has been sent back. It is a problem. Let us state that.

I have a question about the imbalance that I mentioned. The member was touching on the skill supply. There is currently an imbalance between available jobs and the number of unemployed. How do the Moderaterna intend to act now? The companies, the business sector, and the municipalities demand a national effort. Are the Moderaterna ready to take the step to ensure that the skill supply is managed?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Merit Frost Lindberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for further questions!

I note that the Social Democrats, or at least the member, do not seem to worry about goals not being achieved. It is a rather important message for the voters to know. The targets that are promised in the election campaign do not necessarily have to be kept at all. It does nothing, as it sounds.

When it comes to the employment rate, I note that it is not true that it is higher. There we have also lost significantly. It is a very worrying development.

We are now doing our utmost to tackle the troublesome legacy that we have inherited. Arbetsförmedlingen really has a journey to make. Now a reform has been made. That organization needs to sit down and find the working methods.

We met with Arbetsförmedlingen last week and listened to how they work. It is very clear that the time needs to be spent in a different way than what they are doing. It is a combination of clear requirements for the people who are not working today and measures that should be offered as support.

What is important to reflect upon is that the people who are not in jobs are supported by all people with low incomes. It is perhaps they who toil the most. It is not the case that there is a small group of wealthy people who support the large group of people who do not work. It can sound like that sometimes, but it is not true.

It is our low-income earners, cleaners, nurses, teachers and police officers. It is all the people who toil at their jobs who are the ones who have to pay for the people who do not go to work. The goal is that everyone who can should work.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden is in a serious situation where the economic downturn threatens to increase unemployment, while inflation and interest rates erode households' purchasing power. Therefore, it is a deeply irresponsible action by the government to cut back on the jobs policy at a time when it is needed most.

What is needed instead is an active labor market policy that both equips and matches those who lack work and facilitates employers' needs for skills supply. On the goals: We Social Democrats have the goal of achieving full employment. We want the labor market policy to be designed from the objective that everyone who can work shall work.

For the individual, work is a prerequisite for livelihood, and it provides the freedom to live one's life in the way one chooses. Work also often provides professional pride and a sense of being needed, and the interaction with colleagues fulfills an important social function.

We believe that everything that makes Sweden Sweden, especially our welfare, depends on as many as possible getting up every morning to go to work.

To achieve full employment, an active labor market policy is required that uses a broad range of tools to adapt to individuals' needs. This includes subsidized employment, matching support, labor market training, internships, and work-oriented rehabilitation.

Mr. Speaker! A combination of measures may be needed to bring people who are far from the labor market closer to the labor market. Therefore, it is alarming that the Sweden Democrats and the right-wing government, in these tough economic times, when unemployment is predicted to increase, are lowering the ambitions for labor market policy and cutting the appropriations for adult education.

This is a direct attack on our welfare and on workers who are struggling to get jobs or keep their jobs. This, together with the cuts from previous years, is a double blow against everyone who is in need of strengthening their position on the labor market.

Mr. Speaker! That is why we must invest in an active labor market policy that gives people the opportunity to return to work and contribute to society.

We Social Democrats want to see an active state labor market policy throughout the country, with increased presence and interventions in vulnerable areas, where Arbetsförmedlingen has the opportunity to choose labor market policy interventions based on the individual job seeker's needs.

We Social Democrats stand for a different direction than the right-wing parties. We strive for a strong labor market with more jobs and increased security for all workers on the Swedish labor market.

Mr. Speaker! During our time in government, we improved the unemployment insurance, strengthened the Public Employment Service, created new extra services, and laid the foundation for the world's best transition system.

We also left behind a strong labor market with 450,000 more people in work compared to 2014. It is 100,000 more who are now working in the welfare sector. To that, we can add the highest employment rate in 30 years as well as a lower unemployment rate than before we entered the pandemic.

Mr. Speaker! We are serious about breaking segregation by getting people into work. Therefore, we Social Democrats believe that it is a completely incorrect priority and a lack of responsibility towards the entire society that the right-wing government lowers taxes for high-income earners instead of investing in an active labor market policy. It is not just about creating more jobs, but also about giving people the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills through education and other support measures.

Mr. Speaker! In other words, more education in labor market policy and vice versa is required to meet today's and tomorrow's skills supply.

Mr. Speaker! During the corona pandemic, the Social Democratic-led government implemented improvements to the unemployment insurance so that more wage earners could receive 80 percent of their salary. We believe that these improvements are crucial so that more people who have worked are covered by the security that the unemployment insurance provides. Therefore, we support the proposal to maintain the raised ceiling levels within the income loss insurance and the increased basic allowance in the insurance.

Mr. Speaker! We note that the government proposes that funds be allocated permanently to maintain the same higher level as during the pandemic in the budget bill for 2023. Furthermore, the government has now returned to the Riksdag with a proposal that the temporary reliefs in the working conditions, the sickness benefit condition, and the rules for entrepreneurs that were introduced during the pandemic shall remain in effect until further notice.

We assume that the government will implement these reforms, and we will return in other contexts if that is not the case.

Mr. Speaker! We look forward to a continued development of the unemployment insurance in order to be able to provide a more secure labor market for all wage earners.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker: We Social Democrats will continue to work for an active labor market policy aimed at full employment and that gives all individuals the opportunity to develop their abilities and contribute to our common future. That is what Sweden needs to meet the challenges we face today and to secure our common welfare.

Mr. Speaker! We Social Democrats naturally stand behind our policy and, of course, behind all our reservations in the report, but for the sake of time, I move for approval of only reservation 4.

(Applause)

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Magnus Jacobsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! In this report, we handle approximately 80 motions from the general motion period concerning labor market policy and the unemployment insurance, which shows that there is a great commitment to these important issues in the Riksdag. At the same time, the report shows that the government is already working on these issues and that a large number of investigations are ongoing, which will come to the Riksdag after they are completed.

I therefore move for the rejection of all these motion proposals and for the approval of the committee's proposal in the report.

Mr. Speaker! We find ourselves today in a situation where we have many who are outside the labor market at the same time as we have municipalities and companies that are having difficulty finding labor.

In March 2023, the number of unemployed reached 434,000. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 7.7 percent. Long-term unemployment is decreasing but from high levels. Sweden has 123,800 people who have been unemployed for more than half a year.

We must manage to handle this. One of the most important ways to solve this is that we create new paths to jobs. Establishment jobs, simpler tax rules to facilitate self-employment, apprenticeship training, adult education, folk high schools and functioning rules regarding gig jobs - everything I am now listing are different methods that make it possible for more people to enter employment.

Self-sufficiency makes one more independent and free and allows one to develop one's own life. One also gains a work community that makes it possible to find new friends. With economic integration, the door opens to the social community that we Christian Democrats have as our vision. Labor market policy is therefore an important area where, together with the labor market partners, we make it possible for everyone, both young people and new Swedes, to become a part of our social community.

Mr. Speaker! The report contains individual motions from two Christian Democratic members highlighting the need to supplement the employment goal with a self-sufficiency goal.

I understand that it is the government that decides which subject and statistical areas there shall be official statistics for, as well as which agencies shall be responsible for the statistics. Thereafter, it is the agencies themselves that are responsible for method and quality, as well as for which statistical measures shall be used. I still consider this to be an interesting proposal, and I will therefore take it with me in further discussions with the other parties within the government base.

Mr. Speaker! It is very good that the parties have negotiated a new transition study support. At the same time, it is important that the state continues to develop labor market training through folk high schools and adult education as well as various forms of labor market measures. The goal must be to make more of those who are outside the labor market employable.

At the same time, it is not enough that people become employable. We must make it easier for people to move to where the jobs are. I personally believe, therefore, that we should look at how we worked during the 80s, when southern Sweden needed labor. We solved it by having people from Norrland move south, as well as through a labor immigration that focused on hiring staff within our shortage occupations, and then primarily within the industry.

Today we have a need to get people to move north, while at the same time I am convinced that we need to reform the migration policy so that we facilitate for students and strategically important labor to come here and work - both in the public and in the private sector. This will be one of our really big challenges during the coming years.

Mr. Speaker! Arbetsförmedlingen has undergone changes during recent years. Fundamentally, these are good changes, which open up for more people to be involved and mediate jobs. At the same time, the changes have resulted in an uncertainty regarding Arbetsförmedlingen's cooperation with municipalities.

It is therefore important to point out that Arbetsförmedlingen has a clear mandate to cooperate with the municipalities, and that Arbetsförmedlingen shall facilitate and assist cooperation between municipalities and the independent actors. Cooperation shall also occur so that the transition from unemployment to studies in municipal adult education is facilitated.

It is important that Arbetsförmedlingen has a clear mandate, as we need to achieve good cooperation if we are to get more people into jobs. It is also important that Arbetsförmedlingen is well represented throughout the country.

In our agreement with the Tidö parties, we emphasize that the range of labor market policy measures should be simplified with fewer and more cost-effective measures that lead to jobs. This is a good direction.

Mr. Speaker! The report contains several motions concerning measures for persons with disabilities who have reduced work capacity and Samhall. In these matters, we Kristdemokrater support the committee's assessment, but I would nevertheless like to take the opportunity to point out that we need to review this entire area in order to facilitate things for those who in different ways have reduced work capacity.

For my part, I have on several occasions highlighted the need for a more individualized compensation model, where the individual receives an assessment of their work capacity and can thereafter take the social support to any employer of their choice. Such a more personal support model would have given the individual a wider range of workplaces as well as better opportunities to enter a work community.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank Magnus Jacobsson for a good speech. A couple of questions arose when I listened to Magnus Jacobsson when he spoke about new ways to jobs.

When one reads the government's budget bill, one can note that it states that subsidized employment is an important measure for those who are far from the labor market. Furthermore, the government writes, with reference to a number of studies, that it can be difficult for foreign-born persons, especially refugees, to establish themselves in the labor market. The government therefore considers that special measures are needed that contribute to accelerating labor market establishment.

I share the government's view that subsidized jobs are important, and I believe that they are an important complement to educational measures and placement support from Arbetsförmedlingen for those groups who have a weak connection to the labor market.

Even in Arbetsförmedlingen's budget basis for the period 2022-2024, one can read that subsidized employment is one of the measures that can be effective in helping people who are far from the labor market into jobs. This applies in particular to foreign-born women, where extra services have been successful for these women to enter the labor market.

In view of this, I would like to ask the member a question because the government has now chosen to phase out such an important labor market policy initiative, not least for these groups – women who need this.

How does the member view the specific measures that the government plans to take to help people with weak labor market ties, particularly with a focus on foreign-born women, so that they will have the opportunity to enter the labor market?

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Magnus Jacobsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! First, a slightly more educational clarification: When a new government is formed after an election, one has an election result. One has a number of parties that sit down and negotiate. These negotiations take as long as they take, but the budget law in the Riksdag does not take that into account. It is the same in municipalities and regions: One has a fixed time for when a proposal must be on the table.

This means in practice – which I think we in politics should be clearer about – that the first budget one submits in a municipality, in a region, or in the Riksdag is very much a budget that is connected to the previous government. That results in one getting a number of such overlapping effects. One that I myself have highlighted concerns the support that has existed for Bilda, which has worked on getting individuals into the labor market with solar roof technicians. It is a typical example that probably wasn't even included in the budget negotiation. It was a temporary measure that the previous government made a decision on, but they also made a decision on an end date.

In principle, considering previous budgets and allocated resources, it is correct that - as the member previously pointed out, Mr. Speaker - a certain saving has occurred. But as the member Serkan Köse - I hope I pronounce the name somewhat correctly - has also very rightly pointed out, a part of these savings occurred simply because the resources were not used.

It is a huge problem if we agree to take measures and allocate resources to an agency but the money remains and is repaid. In that case, it is actually better to use them elsewhere, for example in the rest of the public sector.

I still believe that on the principled level, Mr. Speaker, we are in very much agreement.

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Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! I can begin by stating that the member pronounced the surname correctly. I thank you for that.

I have known for some time that the Christian Democrats have been quite firm when it comes to, in particular, work-integrated social enterprises, which are an important measure especially for women with a foreign background. There, we have also had a common view. This is somewhat lacking, both in the Tidö Agreement and in the budget.

It is clear that one cannot get everything into a budget. I understand that too. But I believe that the political direction of will is incredibly important. How are we going to address that we have very many, not least women with a foreign background, who have difficulty establishing themselves in the labor market?

We Social Democrats believe that the extra services have been important. SKR has also written this in its reports. I know that also very many Christian Democratic municipal councilors across the country have thought it is important with extra services so that not least women can establish themselves on the labor market. But it is also important for continuity when it comes to what we talked about earlier, namely the supply of skills.

There is therefore a win-win situation in comparison with the government's major investment in the "nystartsjobb" (new start jobs), which is a rights-based measure. Many assess that these people who are very close to the labor market could still get jobs, so there might not be a need to allocate twice as much funding there. But that is a discussion we can have.

Then I just want to briefly comment on the resources. The Swedish Parliament passed a decision in 2019 regarding the M-KD-SD budget, and there you cut the appropriation to Arbetsförmedlingen, which meant that Arbetsförmedlingen was forced to issue redundancy notices to over 4,000 employees. Of these, 3,000 have been let go.

With the economic conditions and the reduced number of employees at the agency, and on top of that a pandemic, it is clear that it has been difficult to spend all the money. Everyone understands that. It also appears in Arbetsförmedlingen's annual report that it has been very tough for the agency that they have not spent all of their funds.

But let us go back to the discussion. What concrete plan does the government have for those people who have a weak connection to the labor market? What do you intend to do for them?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Jacobsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Serkan Köse, for a very good question!

The Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats have, which not everyone is always aware of, a number of similarities. One of them is that we are people's movement parties with strong ties out in Folkrörelsesverige. That means we often raise issues that are precisely about the perspective of having cooperation between municipalities, the public sector, and civil society.

When it comes to people who are far from the labor market, it is our view, which we also advocate for in different ways, that one needs to work with education. One needs to work with the new measures that accompany the new labor market model. We are positive about what the trade union parties together with the employers have agreed upon regarding education. Of course, in the long run, we must also look at how resources are used.

It is correct that in the budget we have submitted now, there have been some cuts in our area. But these are also linked to the Arbetsförmedlingen's situation over time. It is not just about the covid years. When I myself was a municipal council member, we received a signal from Arbetsförmedlingen there where they said: We will have to bring back 1 billion in our area. Then we as a municipality could commit some of our own resources, and so we got a project where we got closer to a hundred young people into jobs.

But that has been a problem for a long time. Regardless of the government, we have added resources that we have allocated in the budget but which have then not been used. There, I hope that the government that I support, encourage, and strengthen will become better at hitting the mark. Misused money, or rather, wrongly placed money, is also a betrayal, because it is money that does not land where it needs to be.

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Erik Hellsborn (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to begin by moving for the approval of the Sweden Democrats' reservation number 1.

The Sweden Democrats want a new form of apprenticeship employment to be created. The models are Norway, Denmark and Germany, where this has functioned as a very effective way to create new job opportunities for not least young people. There is actually no reason to believe that it would work worse here in Sweden.

In Sweden, we have two parallel problems. On the one hand, we have high unemployment within certain categories of the population. At the same time, on the other hand, there is a lack of labor within a number of sectors. The job seekers simply do not have the education required for the jobs that are advertised.

It is the Sweden Democrats' view that apprenticeship positions are an important piece of the puzzle to solve these problems. Not all people have so-called reading skills. Many people learn better by doing than by reading. Going as an apprentice would make it easier for these people to get out and take a job within a shortage sector.

We also know that the group of people where unemployment is highest are people with an immigrant background and non-Western background. Within that category, there are many who perhaps do not master the language so well, which obviously makes it harder to study at a higher level. It is a barrier. Even for this group, it would facilitate entering the labor market with apprenticeship positions. In this way, this is not only a labor market policy measure but also an integration policy one.

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Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the speech.

Let me state, regarding apprenticeship employment, that there is already today in the Education Act a high school apprenticeship education that one can start in the first, second, or third school year. It is good that there is high school apprenticeship education, and it is good for students to gain practical experience. The form of education also already exists today for very many different occupations – hairdresser, chef, electrician and the like – on the Swedish labor market. Therefore, I share the committee's opinion when the committee writes that it is important that such labor law changes are anchored among the parties, not least when it concerns new hires.

However, I do not intend to dwell on that, but rather I intend to dwell on the Sverigedemokraternas latest committee motion, which the member said nothing about. There, Sverigedemokraterna write that they want to remove "special solutions based on country of birth" regarding people of non-Western background. They also believe that "wage subsidies based on country of birth" should be phased out in the long run.

Then I want to ask the member which concrete measures the Sweden Democrats plan to take to abolish the so-called special solutions based on the unemployed person's country of birth. Furthermore, I am very interested in whether the Sweden Democrats can give examples of the wage subsidies that they want to phase out which today are based on country of birth.

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Erik Hellsborn (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, the member, for relevant points and relevant questions!

In politics, we point out guidelines. Before we go down to the level of detail, it must, of course, be properly investigated. I do not intend to stand here and say that we shall do this or that at the level of detail. It is about a broader political will for what we are to achieve.

We can observe a couple of things about the labor market policy in Sweden. One is that it is not regulated in the Tidö Agreement. Furthermore, our two parties actually have a majority in this chamber. I therefore have a hope that we will be able to find common ground between our two parties, even if the member does not seem to agree with these specific views. But in many other issues, there is still broad consensus between our two parties. There is definitely greater consensus between our parties than there is with certain parties that are part of the member's government base.

My counter-question is therefore: Should we not sit down together and try to find common solutions to this?

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Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! I do not quite feel that I received an answer to my question. The member touched upon consensus and the Tidö parties. Do I understand correctly? Does the member mean that there is some kind of consensus today in the majority constellation regarding removing the special solution based on country of birth, and that it is desired that the wage subsidy based on country of birth should be phased out over time? I wonder if there is some type of consensus – just so that I understand.

I still want to return to my question. What concrete measures do the Sweden Democrats plan to take to abolish the so-called special solutions? If the member can say anything about that, I would be grateful.

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Erik Hellsborn (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I apologize if I expressed myself unclearly. When I spoke of consensus, I did not mean consensus within the Tidö cooperation. Labor market policy, as mentioned, is not addressed there. What I mean is that in many parts of labor market policy, there should be room for consensus between the Social Democrats and the Sweden Democrats.

Of course, we do not think alike in all matters, but I want to argue that our two parties stand closer to each other than we perhaps do to some of our respective coalition partners.

Once again - we politicians shall point out the direction. The details must be investigated. I do not intend to stand here and say that we shall do exactly one or the other. But we point out in which direction the policy shall go.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Camilla Mårtensen (L)

Mr. Speaker! Liberal labor market policy is crucial to ensuring a growing economy. In order to make it possible for companies to expand and hire more workers, we must have a flexible labor market.

The introduction to a speech can be the first in this chamber that is not written by a politician or a political secretary, but by a chatbot. I cannot be certain, as politicians, just like everyone else, do not want to show that someone or something else can do our job at least as well. My introduction shows, despite the technology being new, that we face a major transition in the labor market, just as in the rest of the world.

Furthermore, the chatbot says: AI will affect the labor market by taking over certain work tasks but at the same time creating new opportunities that require new skills from employees.

That also sounds reasonable. But the rest of this speech I have both thought out and authored myself. The above exemplifies that development and change occur at a breathtaking speed, regardless of whether we think it is good or bad. We therefore need to have a forward-looking and flexible labor market policy. New ways of working and new markets have been started, and we will see more in the future. It places demands on us as legislators to find new reasonable balances between the market's demand and the employees' conditions.

One example is the gig economy. Several of us gained more knowledge about it at a seminar a few weeks ago. A quote from one of the employees at Foodora read: I am not a victim of the platform companies; I am a victim of the Swedish labor market.

More than 50 percent of those who work at the platform company have at least a three-year higher education, said Linda Weidenstedt, who is a sociology researcher at Stockholm University. At the same time, we must address the work environment problems and the insecurity that exist. Nevertheless, we cannot turn a blind eye to the advantages that make a group of employees appreciate and enjoy working for a platform company during a transitional period or in the longer term.

Mr. Speaker! If one has a full high school diploma, unemployment is almost zero. As a Liberal, I note that the preventive work and the labor market policy begin as early as primary school. Nevertheless, we have a large group that does not have a high school diploma.

In addition to strengthening the school, the government has added 8,350 more programs at yrkesvux and yrkeshögskolan to address the absurdity of employers crying out for competence while we have high unemployment.

Everyone who can work shall work. Then it must also pay off better. We must lower the tax on low incomes and increase the gap between those who work and those who do not work despite their ability to work. And the individual's self-reliance shall increase by ensuring that it always pays to work.

As a liberal, I want us to emphasize the individual's responsibility to make themselves employable and, together with the authorities, find the measures that best and fastest lead to self-sufficiency and with the freedom to shape one's own life. It may mean that one must commute by week, or perhaps take the family and move to where the work is. Support must therefore be designed together with municipalities and regions. That is, it is not just a job that is needed, but also childcare, school, and other welfare services so that one can make themselves employable.

If you are healthy, you have a responsibility to seek and take the jobs that are available. If you are far from the labor market, you may need extensive support, for example via supported employment, which is comprehensive individual-based support.

Mr. Speaker! At Arbetsförmedlingen, there are 220,000 reported vacancies. I believe there are many more. As a former employer with experience in recruitment and with many friends who are small business owners, I hear stories that in the hunt for labor, they have stopped reporting vacancies to Arbetsförmedlingen.

They say that at least half of the applications for every job advertisement come from unemployed people who are not qualified and, above all, not interested in taking the job. This procedure creates amounts of administration but perhaps above all frustration in the business sector. For the unemployed, it creates incentives and processes that in no way strengthen the chances of getting work, but instead creates unnecessary bureaucracy and focus on the wrong things. You must apply for a certain number of jobs to receive your a-kassa. Whether you are qualified or interested in the job matters less.

We must rethink. It is not the number of applications that proves that one is available to the labor market. Surely we must be able to have better imagination.

Every job is important. The division between "fine" and "dirty" jobs has been devastating. Every young person has the right to experience the freedom of their first earned salary. Every adult should be given the opportunity to be a nation-builder, regardless of what they work with. Let us do more for the work line that creates opportunities for everyone.

Mr. Speaker! I therefore move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! I asked a question to the member of the Sweden Democrats. I intend to ask the same question to Camilla Mårtensen.

In its latest committee motion, the Liberals' coalition partner Sverigedemokraterna submits a proposal that the government should consider phasing out wage subsidies based on country of birth. In the motion text, the meaning is broadened slightly, to be: We believe that the government should also review and, in the long term, phase out specific solutions based on country of birth.

It is true that there are labor market policy measures aimed at newly arrived people and the long-term unemployed. But it can be questioned whether there really are wage subsidies aimed exclusively at employers who hire, among other things, foreign-born people.

Given this and not least that it is included in the report, as the Sverigedemokraterna continue to push the issue, I would like to ask a question to the Liberalerna, who govern the labor market policy and the Ministry of Employment with the support of the Sverigedemokraterna, who hold the chairmanship in the Committee on Employment. Do you agree that there are wage subsidies or so-called special solutions within the labor market policy measures that are based on the job seekers' country of birth? If so, I wonder if the Liberalerna plan to take any measures to address this.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Camilla Mårtensen (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member Köse! If I understand correctly, the Member wants me to comment on the Sweden Democrats' committee motion. But I do not hold the Member accountable for the motions of the Left Party, the Green Party, or for that matter, the Centre Party. And no, I cannot see that I as a Liberal or my Liberal colleagues have any reason to support such a motion.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member! The Sweden Democrats are part of the government base. It is clear that it is important to know what the government intends with the proposals presented in the report. It is good that it is clarified from the member's side how one views this issue. I have also asked Johan Pehrson, and he stated quite simply that there are no wage subsidies or other interventions within the labor market policy that are based on the job seeker's country of birth. It was good that he was very clear, because it was not quite clear earlier.

But back to the discussion. A question that the member also touched upon concerns labor market policy measures to strengthen the supply of skills. I want to ask a question because the member mentioned the number of training places. For me, it becomes a bit problematic to understand. The government is removing 1 billion from the educational measures and putting back two-thirds of those funds. The government is removing 200 million kronor from Arbetsförmedlingen and putting back 50 million. They are being tossed between two appropriations for Arbetsförmedlingen, from programs to administration.

How is it going to add up? When the government has cut resources for educational initiatives and active labor market policies - how can one then manage the number of educational places, especially now when very many have lost their educational places? The consequences of the cuts the government made are already visible at the folk high schools.

I would very much like to know how the member thinks regarding the resources for the active labor market policy in order to meet the skill supply and for more training places. You call it an investment when it is, in fact, a reduction of the appropriations.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Camilla Mårtensen (L)

Mr. Speaker! I must first comment on the fact that it is the second time I am standing here in the speaker's chair today and need to defend another party's motions. My party leader, the Minister for Employment, has very clearly stated previously that we liberals do not see those problems.

It would result in some rather strange debates in the future if I were to do the same towards Member Köse. I shall try to avoid that. A higher level of debate is needed here, please!

Regarding the number of educational places, the member is correct – not in that we have cut back, but in that we have implemented the change after the pandemic that was planned. I think it is quite reasonable. It was concluded precisely in accordance with what the Socialdemokraterna had planned, and now after the pandemic we are taking new steps and seeing what is needed. Therefore, we have established more labor market trainings.

I want to give the member the right that it will not be enough. Even though one does not yet quite see the effects on the Swedish labor market, the gears are grinding, and there will probably be high unemployment. Therefore, I think that we must continue to work and have accurate measures. I calmly expect that there will be more resources in the autumn budget.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ciczie Weidby (V)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden was for a long time a pioneer in terms of active labor market policy. For nearly half a century, from the 1950s until the beginning of the 2000s, Sweden invested significantly more in active labor market policy than other comparable countries. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Instead, there has been a successive retreat for active labor market policy in Sweden, which has gone hand in hand with the goal of full employment being abandoned.

The development has been driven by both Social Democratic and bourgeois governments. A policy aimed at armament and competence-enhancing measures to improve job seekers' opportunities in the labor market has unfortunately been replaced by a policy to increase search intensity and maximize the labor supply. The "reforming" of Arbetsförmedlingen, which meant that a large part of the agency's activities were privatized, is a step in this development.

Mr. Speaker! The Left Party wants to re-establish the active labor market policy. This requires, on one hand, an employment service that functions, and on the other hand, larger investments in active measures that equip and increase the job seekers' competence. The focus should be on preventing and breaking unemployment.

Vänsterpartiet advocates, as stated, for an active state labor market policy with an emphasis on good matching, skill-enhancing measures, and functional support targeted at the individuals who need them. The measures shall contribute to a well-functioning labor market where people's skills and will to work are taken into account.

A cohesive state employment service with a national overview is a prerequisite for being able to conduct such an active labor market policy. The employment service shall exist throughout the country to guarantee that all citizens are given equal support regardless of where they live. The agency shall focus on equipping the job seekers and matching them against the jobs that exist and emerge. The measures shall be individually tailored and effective.

The consultation between Arbetsförmedlingen and the labor market partners should be strengthened in order to take advantage of the parties' unique knowledge of the labor market's functioning. The agency's cooperation with municipalities, regions, and the business sector should be developed. The activities shall be conducted in the public sector without profit interest, and the number of private actors should be limited.

Mr. Speaker! An unemployment insurance that provides income security in the event of unemployment is crucial for creating strong and secure employees. The unemployment insurance has several purposes. For the individual employee, the fund provides income security in the transition from one job to another. For employees as a collective, the insurance contributes to preventing unfair competition and maintaining wages at a decent level even in times of unemployment.

Unemployment insurance plays an important role in the economy. It dampens cyclical fluctuations, improves the functioning of the labor market, has a positive effect on productivity, increases the labor supply, and contributes to increased equality.

In order for those who lose their jobs to be able to have good opportunities to either retrain or find a job that corresponds to their competence, the unemployment insurance (a-kassan) needs to provide a reasonable compensation. 80 percent of the income is a reasonable level to secure income security and the ability to transition for the individual. That is not quite how the unemployment insurance looks today. Over the last decades, the unemployment insurance has deteriorated. The compensation has been eroded over time, and fewer and fewer receive these 80 percent.

The Left Party's goal is, as stated, that 80 percent of wage earners shall receive 80 percent of their previous salary in the event of unemployment. We therefore want to raise the maximum unemployment benefit and the basic amount, index the compensation amounts to wage development, raise the compensation level to 80 percent for the entire compensation period as well as for the period with activity support, improve the qualification and compensation conditions, abolish the waiting days in the unemployment insurance fund, and reintroduce the study condition. These reforms shall take place gradually, and we obviously have a very fine and good model presented in our budget motion.

Mr. Speaker! I also want to talk a bit about subsidized employment, which is an important part of the labor market policy toolbox. It is an important measure to help newcomers, the long-term unemployed, and persons with disabilities to gain a firmer connection to the regular labor market. For a long time, however, the current system for subsidized employment has involved some risks and problems. Unscrupulous employers have used subsidized employment to lower their costs, dump prices, and knock out competitors.

Every year, unfortunately, large sums are paid out in employment support to various private companies. Which companies have received the grants and how much money they have received is, however, covered by secrecy. I therefore believe that the government should come forward with proposals that make it possible for authorities and journalists to scrutinize which companies receive state wage subsidies, while the protection of the individual's privacy is, of course, safeguarded.

Mr. Speaker! I further mean that it is necessary, above all, to conduct a larger mapping of the conditions for persons who have subsidized employment in order to guarantee these persons the correct salary, fair working conditions, and reasonable working hours. Arbetsförmedlingen lacks comprehensive data on the area today. I believe, therefore, that the government should carry out a mapping of working hours, salary levels, and working conditions for those who have subsidized employment.

I also believe that an inquiry should be appointed to both review the regulatory framework and procedures for subsidized employment, and to propose further measures to counter abuse and over-utilization of labor market policy interventions. Therefore, I wish to move for approval of reservation number 7.

Mr. Speaker! We are in a serious economic situation with sky-high inflation. The right-wing government is doing nothing except delegating the fight against inflation to the Riksbank and letting ordinary people take the hit.

When the Riksbank's interest rate hikes have broken the back of the Swedish economy, we will likely enter a deep recession with high unemployment as a result. In that situation, we must have a labor market policy that works and an unemployment insurance that provides security. We do not have that now. I assume that the right-wing government will come to its senses and re-establish active labor market policy and improve unemployment insurance so that those who become unemployed are given the opportunity for transition under secure conditions.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jonny Cato (C)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to begin by moving for approval of reservation number 5.

During the recent parliamentary terms, the Swedish and the global economy have been subjected to a long series of crises. The financial crisis, the euro crisis, the corona pandemic, and now Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine have all left deep marks on the Swedish economy and created major challenges on the Swedish labor market.

Our economy is characterized by high inflation and rising interest rates, and many Swedes are now experiencing a tough economic situation. This naturally also affects the labor market, where unemployment is expected to increase and employment to fall back.

More Swedes need to go to work. The basis for more people having a job is quite simple. One: More job opportunities are needed. Two: The matching on the Swedish labor market needs to become much better.

A renewed policy is needed for our job creators in Sweden, and in the name of honesty, a labor market policy was needed from the government in the first place.

If we are to create more jobs, we need to be one of the world's best countries to do business in. Simpler rules and less hassle are needed. It must become cheaper to hire, and more mobility on the labor market is needed. Changes in society also mean changed needs when it comes to real security for the employees. The effects of the pandemic on the labor market have also made the reforms initiated through the January Agreement more important than ever.

Mr. Speaker! It is of the utmost importance to break the division in the labor market, counter long-term unemployment, and ensure that everyone who comes to Sweden is given the opportunity to truly enter and become a part of our Swedish common society. For this, effective support and matching for job seekers are needed.

Arbetsförmedlingen has previously had a monopoly on mediating new jobs to those who are unemployed, a task that they have not succeeded in. The government should, or no, the government must take measures to ensure that the reform of Arbetsförmedlingen becomes as good as possible, for it is not completed, only started. For an effective and functioning labor market policy, it is further required that Arbetsförmedlingen's local presence be re-established throughout the country. All Swedes shall have good access to Arbetsförmedlingen.

Mr. Speaker! I thought I would conclude by saying a few words about the unemployment insurance. The unemployment insurance needs to focus on transition, encourage mobility and facilitate for people to quickly change jobs.

The unemployment insurance needs to enable a secure transition while simultaneously guaranteeing that it pays to work. That the government now, more or less directly, chooses to make the crisis measures we adopted during the pandemic permanent, I see as extremely serious. In large terms, a broad review of the unemployment insurance is needed.

Mr. Speaker! I sometimes say that I didn't join the Center Party, but rather the Alliance. One of the reasons for that is that I consider myself a market liberal and as someone who loves the work line. I think the government statement was regrettable, but what still made me a little happy was to hear words such as that the benefit line shall disappear and that the work line shall be established.

I believe that more Swedes going to work every morning is important for everyone in this chamber, but we have different solutions to get there. I share, in many ways, the views of the Christian Democrats, the Liberals, and the Moderates on the work line, but it echoes very empty regarding the labor market policy. There is a great deal of words and tweeting, sometimes a bit less successful, one must admit, sometimes a bit more successful.

Last night when I came home after a long day in the Riksdag, I received a picture from one of my friends. It was on Playstation 5. I asked: Where is this from? Yes, he had just received the news that he had moved from a probationary employment to now being permanently employed. And do you know what? On April 17, the government had been in power for six months. The probationary period for the government is over. It is time to stop talking and start delivering.

Regardless of what one thinks about the labor market policy, some concrete proposals, some reforms, and some government bills need to be presented, not just talk about how tough and cool it is to be unemployed. Concrete measures are needed so that more people can go to work every day and so that more children – boys and girls – get to see their parents go to work.

The trial period is over, and it is time to deliver. I am hoping for news, but my expectations are not very high.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Jacobsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I realize that I am provoking some colleagues at this late hour.

There are different ways to express oneself. Here in the chamber today, I nevertheless want to praise Ciczie Weidby and Jonny Cato for good rhetoric. I also think that from their two ideological perspectives, they fill the chamber with content, concepts, emotion, and clarity about what exactly these two parties desire.

The only thing I can't quite make sense of is how the poor Social Democrats are supposed to put this together into a government basis. Therefore, my question to Jonny Cato is: All this beautiful stuff you are saying, which I share in many parts, where exactly do you intend to implement it?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jonny Cato (C)

Mr. Speaker! I am starting to feel like a parrot. Why is that? Last week I debated in the chamber. It was the same questions from the Moderates, the Liberals and the Christian Democrats, that is to say how we are to put together the government base.

It is almost four years until the next election. Stop talking so much about what the opposition might do in the future and start delivering politics to those who do not have a job to go to. That is what I want the governing parties to do.

How did it go last time when Centerpartiet cooperated with Socialdemokraterna? Well, one got through a historic reform of LAS, a historic reform of Arbetsförmedlingen and lowered taxes on work.

What do you get then with the Moderate-led government that cooperates with the Christian Democrats and the Liberals? Well, you get increased employer contributions, and you get increased unemployment insurance, that is, the benefit line, not the work line.

We have shown that we can do very well together with the Social Democrats. We do not always think alike, but we stand on the same value base, that is, all people's equal rights and value. I will never compromise on that. I can compromise on issues regarding taxes, on school, on health and care, but I will never compromise on people's equal rights and value. If you would rather compromise on that than on work, then I regret where the Swedish Christian Democracy has gone.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Jacobsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! A high tone is rarely an example of being confident in one's position. That C got some questions through together with S is a fact. In the same way, it is a fact that we Christian Democrats during these four years will get a good deal of our questions through, especially within the healthcare area, which is one of our heart areas. We already see that we can improve the parental insurance, which is also an important issue for us.

But the question remains, Mr. Speaker, even if the Centre Party does not appreciate it: How are you going to put together a government basis?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jonny Cato (C)

Mr. Speaker! I am beginning to believe that we have different starting points as to why we engage politically. I have not engaged so that my party should be in government at all costs, but I have done so so that my party can have an influence. That can be done outside of government, and it can be done in government.

I would very much like to see a cooperation in the center of Swedish politics. I would very much like to see a cooperation with Kristdemokraterna, Liberalerna and Moderaterna - if you want to come home to Alliansen again.

One can laugh at this, but if you look at the reservation in the chamber, it is we who stand for the Alliance's labor line and job creation line. But it is you who raise the unemployment insurance. It is you who stand for the subsidy line.

The Sweden Democrats are laughing, and I understand them because they are getting their policies through. I do not accept the premise that the starting point should be the Sweden Democrats' policy or the Left Party's policy. There are many choices and alternatives in between.

Should it really be three and a half years more in the chamber with that everything is the Social Democrats' fault, that they have done too little, or the question of how we are to assemble the government's support? The member says that one has a high tone when one is not sure. I can state that you want to talk about everything except the government's own policy. That, if anything, is a sign of uncertainty.

You have pushed through a lot, and it remains to be seen what will actually come of it. Johan Pehrson was out this week and said that it is not to be implemented but only investigated. Then it will probably be difficult to carry out in practice. Much can be stated about the general agreement, but the cooperation actually worked well. What we agreed upon was implemented. It remains to be seen if you have an equally successful cooperation these four years. For example, there are quite a few Christian Democrats who do not stand behind all parts of the Tidö Agreement. We can take that in another debate, for example regarding the right to abortion.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Leila Ali Elmi (MP)

Mr. Speaker! 128,000 people in Sweden are long-term unemployed. If we are to believe the Minister for Employment, it is because it is so "cool" to be unemployed. Pehrson's tweet says a lot about the government's attitude towards the unemployed. That it would be "cool" to be unemployed completely lacks any basis in reality. On the contrary, research shows that in addition to social exclusion, long-term unemployment can also lead to serious ill health. The Minister for Employment's contemptuous view of people in unemployment explains why the government is dismantling educational opportunities and instead focuses on benefit caps and points out the unemployed as lazy and greedy people.

But the fundamental problem for the long-term unemployed is that in many cases they lack the skills that are in demand on the labor market. Therefore, education is absolutely crucial and the government's dismantling of educational opportunities is completely incomprehensible. People need to be educated for the jobs that exist on the labor market. It would be good for the individuals who can thereby get into work and furthermore for our society which needs more people in work.

Miljöpartiet has long pursued a labor market policy that puts the individual's need for support at the center. There must be more paths to jobs for those who are far from the labor market. Individuals' needs are different, and it is necessary that the labor market policy measures reflect this.

As for persons with disabilities, the statistics hardly touch upon them. The international monitoring committee for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has criticized how Sweden and other countries meet the convention's requirements regarding the right to work. In September, the international monitoring committee for the convention established how the right to work for persons with disabilities should be interpreted. It provides clear guidance for a radical change of course in Swedish labor market policy.

The criticism concerns, among other things, special solutions, the view on work, and that pay is not given on equal terms. It is important that the government takes the criticism seriously and starts an analysis work with proposals for changes. The needs are individual. A disability does not have to mean reduced work capacity if the person receives the right aids, support, and conditions.

In the continued reform of Arbetsförmedlingen, it is important that the government ensures that the right support is in place. The disability rights movement has submitted a 73-point program, and the movement should be involved in the continued reform work.

Miljöpartiet has long seen the need for more flexible systems that can meet the unpredictability that it entails for a human to have a daily form that can shift, look different on different days, and sometimes shift hour by hour. The system we have today is largely based on an individual's functionality looking the same every day, which does not correspond with the reality for chronically ill and multi-morbid individuals.

We want to see a system that to a greater extent rewards activity, trying things out, breaking isolation, and to a greater extent and in a higher degree self-governing in order to be able to be more active when one's health condition allows it and less active, for example, during periods of flare-ups.

Such a system can be designed in a similar manner to that which applies in the unemployment insurance, where the person who is unemployed marks which days they have worked and then does not receive unemployment benefits for exactly those days. It would provide a basic security and enable people to try out without fear that it will lead to the entire compensation being questioned. It would contribute to preserving health, and combined with more supported employment and better work aids, more could find a level that works.

Mr. Speaker! Foreign-born women have the poorest anchoring on the labor market. The establishment program must become more individually tailored, and Arbetsförmedlingen must become better at matching foreign-born women with jobs and education.

Miljöpartiet also wants to increase access to vocational training, with a particular focus on newly arrived women and shortage occupations. We have seen that women with a foreign background are disadvantaged in the labor market policy assessment due to discrimination. They do not get to participate in measures to the same extent as men and have more difficulty getting in contact with case officers.

A clear gender equality perspective is required in all establishment measures. Women and men shall be met with the same expectations and be given equal opportunities.

It is partly about better-designed interventions and an equal treatment, and partly about finding functional ways to reach out to the women who today have little contact with authorities and society. The investments made in open preschools with language support, where parents on leave can learn Swedish together with the child, are an example of tools to meet these women.

We want to individualize the establishment program so that it can continue for at least four years for those who need more support to establish themselves.

We want to increase the number of places in short vocational training programs at komvux and folkhögskola, aimed at shortage occupations and with a special focus on newly arrived women.

Mr. Speaker! I also want to highlight the importance of work-integrating social enterprises. They play an important role in society by creating opportunities for groups that otherwise have difficulty accessing the labor market. The social benefits are obvious and well-documented.

Tillväxtverket has stated that work-integrating social enterprises have advantages that are particularly good for the target group of newly arrived people and the long-term unemployed.

It is time that we get a new strategy for the development of the work-integrating companies in Sweden. The Christian Democrats have previously expressed interest in these issues and now have the chance to show that they mean business. Many people could receive support from the work-integrating companies on the way out of long-term unemployment, but both regulations and information need to be improved for this to become a reality.

With that said, Mr. Speaker, I would like to move for approval of reservation 12 and reservation 14.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Persson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I will not use the entire speaking time, but I think Member Serkan Köse deserves an answer to his question.

The Sweden Democrats' basic position regarding labor market policy is that we want to remove special solutions based on country of birth. It is not as controversial as it sounds. I think we explain it quite well in the specific statement included in the report. It is not a motion we are proposing.

We want instead to create broad solutions that job seekers can access based on need, regardless of whether they are domestically born or foreign-born. I do not consider that issue to be particularly controversial.

It is about giving the individual an activity or occupation and not diminishing the individual and placing them in a category: You shall be on that labor market measure, because you are foreign-born. You shall be on that labor market measure, because you are a woman. You shall be on that labor market measure, because you are a Swedish guy who is far from the labor market. I think it is the wrong way to go. I think everyone should feel included, regardless of origin. It is not a controversial issue at all.

Then, of course, one tries to slant the issue and turn it into something it is not. It is only to be regretted.

I am convinced that separate solutions on the labor market create contradictions. I can take an example from my own little village in Bromölla municipality. When one entered the Arbetsförmedlingen there a number of years ago, when we had Sweden's highest youth unemployment, one was met by a painting where it said roughly this: Hire a foreign-born person and get half of the employer contribution paid! It sent very strange signals to all the unemployed Swedish youths in Bromölla municipality who were not given the chance to take part in that measure.

I think it is wrong to create measures based on ethnicity, gender, etc. I do not consider that question to be controversial.

I hope that Serkan Köse has received an answer to his question. Otherwise, we will have to address it in a reply.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Magnus Persson, for trying to explain what you mean!

When one reads the committee motion and sees in the report that what is written is not quite what Magnus Persson tried to put forward. It actually states that one wants to remove special solutions based on country of birth and that wage subsidies based on country of birth should be phased out in the long run.

I previously asked the Sverigedemokraterna member Erik Hellsborn what concrete measures Sverigedemokraterna plans to take to abolish these so-called special solutions, which it is argued are based on the job seeker's country of birth, and if one can give examples of the wage subsidies they want to phase out that are based on country of birth. I did not quite feel that I received an answer to that question when the member Magnus Persson tried to answer it.

I ask again if the member can describe concretely for us which measures one intends to abolish that are so-called special solutions based on country of birth.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Persson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Yes, we can take, for example, the track changes, including the fast tracks.

We have the new so-called establishment services, which have been developed between the parties, where it states clearly and distinctly that they are aimed at newcomers and the long-term unemployed. One does not need to have the designation newcomers; it is sufficient with the long-term unemployed. Otherwise, one creates a discussion and a debate in society that one does not need to have. There is nothing strange about that. But we will see what happens with the establishment jobs. Now the trade unions are also starting to grumble a bit about them, so we will see where they go.

It is no secret that we are opposed to such special solutions. What we mean is that labor market measures should be targeted at all individuals who have a need for them. They should not be based on ethnicity.

That is how it looks today. Many labor market measures prioritize foreign-born and long-term unemployed.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! Once again, regarding the fast-track discussion and that this was directed at newly arrived people: It is clear that there are a number of labor market policy measures that target newly arrived long-term unemployed. They exist today. But the question is, again, that the Sweden Democrats write that they want to remove special solutions based on country of birth. That is the question. I would like to understand what the Sweden Democrats mean by country of birth and that the wage subsidies based on country of birth should be phased out.

I still feel that I am not really getting an answer regarding the special solutions that you are talking about, Magnus Persson. Which of them are you going to phase out? It would be interesting to know.

Since I have mentioned that Johan Pehrson has answered the question. He says that there are no wage subsidies or other interventions within the labor market policy that are based on the job seeker's country of birth. Are you doing two different analyses?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Persson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Johan Pehrson's interpretations are for Johan Pehrson to account for. We have no agreements when it comes to labor market policy.

I think I explained it quite well in my speech regarding special solutions for those born abroad. It is like in the proposal that I mentioned that one was met with at Arbetsförmedlingen: Hire a newcomer and get half of the employer contribution paid! It is a typical special solution that creates contradictions in society, and I do not want contradictions in society. I definitely do not want to disparage the individual, and that is what it is about here.

It is exactly the same thing as that I would not want to be and quoted in a corporate board just because I am a man. I do not think that a woman wants to be quoted in a corporate board just because she is a woman. She wants that position thanks to her competence and her knowledge.

It is the same thing when it comes to the labor market measures. There is too much focus on where you come from and who you are instead of looking much more broadly. I believe that society would have become significantly better if we had a slightly broader view in these matters.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(A decision was to be taken on 27 April.)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)