A more effective transition study support
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
1 S stands behind the bill on a more efficient transition study support but criticizes the government for dragging its feet and not being sufficiently proactive 1. S believes that the government should have acted earlier and allocated more money to CSN 2 3 and that the government has failed individuals by postponing the entry into force 1. 4 KD argues that the government has taken measures to facilitate administration and that CSN now has the right resources 4. 5 KD claims that the rule changes simplify the system and that the reform was an initiative from S 5. 6 KD considers education to be investments for the individual and society 6 and that the support ensures that workers can thrive 6. SD emphasizes that the large application pressure and a tangled regulatory framework have led to long processing times and that the proposed changes create a more efficient support.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Niklas Sigvardsson (S)
Mr. Speaker! Today we face a debate and a decision regarding the government's proposition on a more effective transition study support. It is fundamentally welcome, and we Social Democrats support the proposition but want to draw attention to the specific opinion we have in the matter.
We Social Democrats have, side by side with the parties and CSN, long requested measures to promote that more people can take part in the transition study support. Since the first application round in the autumn of 2022, it has been a very popular support that has been in demand but which, unfortunately, far too many have had to wait for far too long. Therefore, the proposed changes to the regulations are welcome so that more can receive a decision faster and in time. This will strengthen the individual's position on the labor market.
Initially, I also want to emphasize that it is important to put the transition study support in its proper context, for this is not just any reform. It is a reform that is based on the fine aspect of the Swedish labor market model, where the parties – trade unions and employers – negotiate the rules of the game for the Swedish labor market and where the state is also an important part in the next stage of the negotiation.
The reform is part of the new main agreement. It has been negotiated by the parties and the state, and it is therefore important that we here in the chamber of the Riksdag, as representatives of the state, feel a great responsibility to uphold the agreement that we have on the Swedish labor market.
Against that background, the transition study support is extra important. It is intended to strengthen the individual's position on the labor market, and thereby increase not only the individual's but the entire Sweden's competitiveness.
That is why we Social Democrats have been critical of how the government has dragged its feet regarding this reform. If the government had instead acted promptly and been proactive, many of the decisions we are making today could already have been in place. CSN and the parties have, in their referral responses to both the investigation and the bill, been clear that it would have been advantageous if the entry into force had occurred on 1 July 2024 instead of 1 January 2025. That is why we Social Democrats only have a special statement; that date has already passed.
Rules that the government, the parties, and CSN assess as important for the system to be able to get started faster are, of course, for us. And this is an important part of this proposition. It is a matter of course that everyone out there who has applied for the transition study support must be able to receive a decision faster. It is a matter of course that the person applying for support must be informed whether they have received a rejection or approval before the start of studies – that is where we are not today. There we have much left to do, and there the government has much left to do. Otherwise, it is highly likely that individuals will say no to education, and that is devastating, not only for the individual but for the entire society.
Unfortunately, we see that only a fraction of those who apply will receive support, and only a fraction of the money earmarked by us here in the chamber will be utilized during the period 2023-2026. It could amount to as much as 10 billion kronor, all according to CSN's own calculations. That is one reason why we Social Democrats have been keen to establish a faster and clearer regulatory framework. The government should have been much earlier with this. If the will had existed, there was the strength in the opposition to handle this faster.
The most important thing here is not money, but it is the individuals who apply for transition study support. It is them that this is about. It is they who should be able to strengthen their position on the labor market through education.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that the transition study support is a reform that can be a real force for change both for the individual and for society, but for the potential to be reached, the government needs to be more proactive. That the government has postponed the commencement is unfortunately not only a delay of a promise given by the state to the parties but also a betrayal of all those individuals who have applied for the support but receive no response.
We Social Democrats are clear that we stand behind both the purpose and the goal of the reform, but we also demand that the government be proactive and show leadership, so that the transition study support becomes as good as it has the potential to be.
Lili André (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the speech! The transition study support strengthens the individual's position on the labor market and thus contributes to securing the competence supply of society and the business sector. We all agree on that. The transition study support gives working adults the opportunity to further develop their competence, and thereby they find their way to new challenges.
The interest in the transition study support has been great, which is very pleasing. At the same time, the large number of applications and the complex regulatory framework have created long processing times at the Central Study Support Board, just as the member also said in the speech. But it is therefore because the transition study support is a completely new type of study support, and the administration of the support has been complex and time-consuming.
The government has therefore, Mr. Speaker, taken a number of measures to facilitate the administration. Among other things, it has been ensured that the resources at CSN have increased in recent years. Today, CSN has the resources and tools needed to handle the large number of applications, which we are very pleased about.
My question to the member is: Are the Social Democrats still satisfied with the government's listening, and that CSN has now carried out a solid and hard piece of work to get into balance, so that those who apply for transition study support will receive a decision in time?
Niklas Sigvardsson (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Lili André, for the question! No, the Social Democrats are not satisfied with the government's actions so far. I shall be clear in saying that. This is actually the first budget where the government provides the money that CSN requires. It is the budget that we are about to begin debating in the chamber soon. The budget that now lies on the Riksdag's table is therefore the first time that the government is providing the money that CSN needed in the autumn of 2022, the spring of 2023, the autumn of 2023, the spring of 2024, and the autumn of 2024 in order to be able to deliver answers to the tens of thousands who have applied. There are over 75,000-80,000 applicants for the transition study support.
We are not satisfied that the government has acted late and dragged its feet. On the other hand, we Social Democrats, just as I said in my speech, think it is good that this bill has now been submitted. It is good that the regulatory framework becomes clearer and better so that the processing can go even faster at CSN. But as I also said in my speech, the entry into force could have already occurred. It could have occurred on July 1, 2024, so that the application round that was until October 1, 2024, could have had this regulatory framework to base it on.
It is stated clearly both in this debate and in other debates that it is good that the government is now delivering this part. But it is also clear that the government could have been even faster and more proactive earlier.
Lili André (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the answer! The rule changes in today's decision make the transition study support more effective and purposeful. The rule changes also mean that the provisions for the transition study support are simplified and that the opportunities to receive transition study support for those working in a shortage occupation increase. It will also be possible to re-qualify for transition study support after a certain period.
Mr. Speaker! I am pleased that we have broad political agreement on today's decision and look forward to getting these rules in place as quickly as possible. The Government has taken an incredible number of fine initiatives so that it can result in a faster processing time than what has been the case previously.
Mr. Speaker! It must be remembered that the reform was an initiative from the Socialdemokraterna without any thought of ensuring the implementation of the support. Some of the initial teething problems were such as all actors knew could arise since no processing system was in place. Everything had to be carried out manually.
I understand that Niklas Sigvardsson is very pleased with what this government has nevertheless fulfilled and the result we now see, namely a more efficient transition study support which we are now approving.
Niklas Sigvardsson (S)
Mr. Speaker! My satisfaction can be discussed. However, it is quite clear that the member is trying to say that all problems are the Social Democrats' fault.
It was seven out of eight parliamentary parties that voted yes to the proposal. This was part of the large main agreement negotiation concerning a completely new and reformed labor market. It was also about the Employment Protection Act and the like. It was extremely important that these parts hung together. When it came to the changes in the Employment Protection Act, there would de facto be no agreement if the transition study support was not also in place.
On the Swedish labor market, it is a very effective give and take. Some things one is satisfied with in a negotiation, and other parts one must accept for the long-term best.
The transition study support is truly the victory for all the wage earners and workers who are out in the country. It is important to remember that it was for that reason this system must be put in place at the same time.
The referral bodies were clear. It can be seen. But it was a risk that all the seven parties that voted for this proposal in the chamber, including the Christian Democrats, considered acceptable because it was important to get the support in place.
But no shadow shall fall over CSN and all those who work there. They have worked hard during these years to ensure that the support is delivered. On the other hand, it is no protection for the government to say that it was a poorly prepared proposal that everyone voted yes to and that they are doing the best they can. One could have been much more proactive. One could have allocated more money to CSN, as the agency demanded. One could have worked harder on streamlining the regulatory framework – that which we are making decisions on today – and that could have been in place already in July this year.
Anders Alftberg (SD)
Mr. Speaker! Almost four years ago, Svenskt Näringsliv, the Negotiation and Cooperation Council PTK, IF Metall, Svenska Kommunalarbetareförbundet, and Landsorganisationen requested that the government modernize labor law. In the agreement, changes to employment protection, the introduction of a new, parallel student support, and a public basic transition and skills support were requested.
The new law on transition support, which we are discussing today, entered into force in the summer of 2022.
We have at various times debated the transition study support here in the chamber. The very large interest and application pressure have, as is known, entailed great challenges. Lack of system support combined with a tangled set of regulations has led to excessively long processing times, as has been pointed out here previously. Among other things, the assessment of the establishment condition has been the most time-consuming part of CSN's assessment.
Mr. Speaker! The bill on the table here today is based on proposals that CSN submitted in the report Assignment to develop proposals for regulatory simplifications within the transition study support.
The proposal consists mainly of seven parts:
The establishment condition shall only be assessed through the income.
Requirements shall not be placed that acquisition work has been the student's main activity.
The length of the education shall not have any significance for when the law shall begin to be applied.
The student's annual income shall be able to be determined earlier.
The calculation of the size of the transition study loan shall be simplified.
It should be possible to receive transition study support for more weeks so that one can make transitions on more occasions in life.
There should be an increased opportunity for transition study support for those who work in shortage occupations.
Mr. Speaker! With the proposed changes, we hope to create a more efficient and purposeful transition study support that further improves the conditions for adults to finance their studies, which in turn strengthens their future position on the labor market.
Lili André (KD)
Mr. Speaker! I would like to begin by expressing my support for the committee's proposal in the report.
Mr. Speaker! Today we are making a decision on a more efficient transition study support. This support, which has existed since 2022, is a fantastic tool for strengthening individuals' opportunities to further their education - thereby strengthening their position on the labor market - and for equipping Sweden when it comes to skills supply for a labor market that is changing at a rapid pace.
Mr. Speaker! The Swedish economy is now heading in the right direction. Thanks to, among other things, the government's successful work and economic policy, we have succeeded in bringing down inflation. We now see signs that growth is picking up. We stand on a stable economic foundation, something that is particularly valuable in a time of global uncertainty.
At the same time, we have continued challenges, not least regarding the supply of skills for our Swedish companies and the public sector. The Government is working purposefully with flexible forms of education and with transition in an increasingly changing labor market. Here, Mr. Speaker, the transition study support plays a decisive role.
In the Konjunkturinstitutet's recurring survey, this is revealed: During the fourth quarter of 2023, 26 percent of companies reported that they have requested labor.
To secure Sweden's competitiveness, we must ensure that individuals have the opportunity to develop, acquire knowledge, and change paths if they so wish or need to. By facilitating for those in professional life to participate in education and retrain, we strengthen not only the individuals but our entire economy and societal development.
Education and further education, Mr. Speaker, are investments for the individual and for society. Technological development, globalization and digitalization have changed the labor market and created a new need for skills. Some occupations are disappearing or changing while new industries emerge. The transition study support is a solution to ensure that Swedish workers not only manage but also thrive and continue to be competitive in this new reality.
It is about the future of our labor market and about individuals' opportunities for transition and further development in a changing world. It is about equipping them for tomorrow's labor market.
The purpose of the transition study support, Mr. Speaker, is to give more working adults the opportunity to further their education and transition when the working life requires it. We know that it is a big step to change careers and further one's education in the middle of life, especially when one has a family and other commitments. Through this support, the uncertainty surrounding studies can be reduced and people are given the security to dare to invest in their future.
The idea behind the transition study support is good. But since its introduction in 2022, a number of problems have arisen. A complex set of rules has contributed to long processing times at the Central Student Loan Board, CSN, which administers the support. This has resulted in many people being forced to wait a long time for a decision, but also that students do not know what their finances will look like and that students postpone their studies or even do not complete them. So, we cannot have that.
Now we are making it easier for people so that they can plan their daily lives during their studies and so that they know better what applies regarding the finances. Now we are solving the knots that exist in the regulatory framework to shorten processing times and make the process smoother for those who apply for the support. With today's proposal, we simplify the rules, and that is what we Kristdemokrater are happy about.
Mr. Speaker! We have also listened to those who have pointed out that there may be a need for transition at several points during working life. Therefore, a special priority has been to facilitate for persons in shortage occupations to receive this study support so that they can educate themselves in new areas of work. It is an important measure to avoid lock-in effects on the labor market, where people get stuck in occupations where their full potential cannot be utilized.
Mr. Speaker! The opposition has raised questions about the implementation of the reform. Here I want to be clear. We have listened to the referral bodies and the relevant authorities.
In order to reduce processing times and the administrative burden, we have introduced simplifications. This applies, for example, to the establishment requirement. When it comes to the employment requirement, it is the assessment of the establishment requirement that has proven to be the most time-consuming part of the processing because it covers such a long period of time. This simplification reduces the long processing times and ensures that those who need the support receive it in a timely manner.
Mr. Speaker! Our government has worked hard to address this problem so that the transition study support functions as it should. We have now made necessary changes to the regulations and added resources so that CSN can handle applications more efficiently. We have also created a sustainable budget, which means that more adults can now begin their education without having to worry about long waiting times.
We all have a responsibility to equip Sweden's labor market for the future, Mr. Speaker. Through a more effective transition study support, we take a major step toward equipping individuals and the labor market regarding the competence needs of the future.
With this, Mr. Speaker, I move again for approval of the committee's proposal in the report. I look forward to building a stronger and more skills-developed Sweden together with the other parties.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.