Response to interpellation 2023/24:183 on super-ministries and national strategy for northern Sweden
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
L argues that the government strengthens industrialization through tax cuts, improved infrastructure, and investments in skills supply 1 2. L emphasizes that Arbetsförmedlingen shall strengthen the work principle and that they attract foreign labor 1 2. L takes responsibility for inflation and argues that it must be eliminated for prosperity 3. L raises benefits for students, those on sick leave, housing allowance recipients, and guaranteed pensioners, as well as lowers taxes for low- and middle-income earners 4. S argues that concrete measures or a finished strategy for northern Sweden are lacking 5. S criticizes L for the reduction in adult education and argues that cuts in active labor market policies are worrying 6. S argues that inflation is dangerous and must be fought by all means 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! Serkan Köse has asked me when the super-ministry is expected to be operational and which ministries and operations will be integrated or coordinated within this new body. Furthermore, he has asked me whether a formal decision on the development of a national strategy for northern Sweden has been made and, if so, whether I can specify which goals and guidelines within my area of responsibility the strategy contains. He has also asked what measures and initiatives are planned within the framework of the national strategy for northern Sweden to ensure a long-term supply of skills that matches the region's future labor market needs and industrial development.
The Ministry of Climate and Enterprise is responsible for issues concerning climate, environment, energy, business, and innovation. The Ministry is also responsible for radiation safety, Agenda 2030 and outdoor life, and works with the transition to a circular economy. The Ministry of Climate and Enterprise has two ministers, Minister for Energy and Enterprise Ebba Busch and Minister for Climate and Environment Romina Pourmokhtari. The Ministry has existed since 1 January 2023.
As Serkan Köse states, a debate article was published on 11 January 2023 where three cabinet ministers, including myself, announced a strategy for northern Sweden and for the transition. The budget bill for 2024 also states that the government intends to develop a strategy for the new industrialization and social transformation in Norrbotten and Västerbotten counties, where several parallel and extensive industrial investments are now taking place that need to be realized at a rapid pace.
The supply of competence is a key factor for meeting the energy transition and for being able to carry out the large-scale company establishments and company expansions that are ongoing and planned. There is a need for competence at the upper secondary level and vocational college level in many areas linked to the ongoing transition. The Government therefore proposes in the budget bill for 2024 that funds be allocated for more places both within vocational colleges and vocational adult education. The Government also proposes a new state grant, from 2024, for vocational education within municipal adult education at the upper secondary level during company establishments or company expansions with a focus on sparsely populated counties, as well as an expansion of the civil engineering programs.
Within the labor market policy, the government continues its work to re-establish the work principle. The labor market policy needs to be designed so that more people enter employment and so that it becomes more cost-effective. A part of this is Arbetsförmedlingen's work in supporting, controlling, and following up on job-seeking activity, including the geographical and professional mobility among the unemployed.
During the autumn of 2022, Arbetsförmedlingen inaugurated a bureau for transformation and matching in the north, with an office in Skellefteå. Subsequently, an office has also been established in Luleå. The bureau's mission is to work with both strategic cooperation and operational interventions to test and identify successful methods that promote geographical mobility and skills supply to the municipalities in Norrbotten and Västerbotten that today are in the midst of or facing large corporate establishments or corporate investments in connection with the green transition. The bureau works with private and public employers to cover as large a part of the skills shortage as possible.
Sweden also needs to become better at attracting and retaining foreign labor with in-demand skills. The Government therefore proposes in the budget bill an investment of 25 million SEK in 2024 to strengthen the coordination of state agencies' processes and work linked to international competence.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank Minister Johan Pehrson for the answer.
At the beginning of the year, Johan Pehrson, Ebba Busch, and Andreas Carlson wrote a debate article in Dagens industri about the government's plans to establish a so-called super ministry and about developing a unified strategy for northern Sweden to accelerate the industrial green transition. What was initially presented as a super ministry has in reality become a merger of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Enterprise, now known as the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise.
This change has sparked criticism, particularly regarding a potential deprioritization of environmental issues. However, it is not this that we are to debate today, but that it has also led to concern and questions regarding the department's function and focus.
Recently, an article was published in the newspaper Altinget highlighting how the merger has affected the joy of work at the department. Almost one in ten employees assess that the joy of work is so poor that it needs to be addressed immediately. Furthermore, four out of ten employees experience that the low joy of work is or can become a risk factor. Even the workload is perceived as a risk factor by six out of ten employees.
These figures are worrying and may signal deep structural problems within the department, which raises questions about the working environment but, above all, about what we are to discuss today, namely the management of the green transition.
Madam Speaker! The second part of my interpellation concerned the overall strategy for northern Sweden. The Minister also mentioned in the article in January that a national strategy would be developed.
This is the fourth debate with Johan Pehrson this year on the issue of skills supply in light of the green industrial transition in northern Sweden. Despite the fact that a year has passed since a promise was made regarding a strategy, it does not seem that any concrete measures or reforms or any strategy is in place.
In April, I submitted a written question to Johan Pehrson regarding whether the announced strategy for northern Sweden would also include the labor market area, that is, whether there is a plan to address the skills supply issue within the strategy. Johan Pehrson answered in his written response that skills supply is one of several areas that will be addressed in the strategy and that work on the strategy is currently ongoing within the Government Offices.
Now, towards the end of the year, I wonder how this work is progressing. Given the Minister's answer, it seems that nothing has happened during the year, as now Johan Pehrson is pushing the question to next year.
Madam Speaker! This delay is concerning given the industrial transformation and the challenges northern Sweden faces, while municipalities and the business community are calling for the state and Johan Pehrson to act. It is also unclear whether the issue of skills supply is included in the new strategy for new industrialization that Johan Pehrson is talking about. It would be good if Johan Pehrson could clarify this in his next contribution.
The issue of competence supply is important for Sweden and Sweden's future. Therefore, it is important that the Minister takes their responsibility and can answer when the national strategy for the green transition will arrive.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! Work is ongoing in the Government Offices. Parallel to this, a policy is being implemented at all times to strengthen and support industrialization throughout Sweden, not least in Norrbotten and Västerbotten.
It is about us transitioning the energy system and working offensively with the taxes. More experts shall be able to work in Sweden. We are lowering taxes for ordinary people, so that it pays more to work. We are fighting inflation. We are working with the infrastructure, which has been so terribly neglected for many years. For example, the government recently made a decision regarding the connection of the Norrbotniabanan so that there will be more pressure on the rails, so that operations can begin to be built. I see that many appreciated this.
This is part of a unified policy to favor industry throughout Sweden. It is very pleasing that in this government's era there is great optimism and that new investments are being pushed forward. My simple assessment is, Madam Speaker, that it is because we are taking measures that show we are serious about the policy concerning securing infrastructure, energy, and a sensible tax system. In my area, I can also speak about skills supply and the major investments in adult education, partly municipal education, partly universities of applied sciences, and the other special measures that I mentioned. We recently spoke in the chamber about the Nordkalotten Foundation. It is on the margins, but it is important so that everyone has a chance to participate in the transition and become part of the fantastic things that are now happening in Norrbotten and Västerbotten.
One must also add that it is a matter of continuing with the tightening and clarification of the work line that we are now undertaking. The assignments I have presented regarding Arbetsförmedlingen are about counteracting fraud and errors together with a-kassor, but also ensuring that requirements are increased for people to be ready to take the jobs that are available. There is no other way to build prosperity. Therefore, there are great hopes for the population growth in, for example, Skellefteå. It has been fantastic and, according to the management in that specific municipality, is according to its own plan. It is known that this will take time. I am nevertheless glad that Serkan Köse is very impatient and is trying to push this forward with additional force with the good help of the control instrument interpellations, Madam Speaker.
I finally want to say something about the changes that occur with the establishment of the super-ministry. If we are to get momentum on this, achieve a balance between efficiency and the interests of the business sector, and build the technology that is important to save the climate both for Sweden's part and globally, it is important to ensure that these decisions are made. That is the idea behind the formation of the Ministry of Climate and Business. Questions regarding the responsibility for that must be directed to the ministers who are responsible there. I am responsible for what we do at the Public Employment Service to strengthen the opportunities for education, together with the broad measures that the government takes to strengthen industrialization throughout Sweden.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank Johan Pehrson for the answer. The reason I raised the article in the Riksdag was not that I wanted to talk about what is happening at the ministry, but that this can also affect our discussion on the government's ambition to develop a national strategy. Above all, the super-ministry is to be the engine in this work. It is therefore quite worrying that employees have such a poor working environment. That was why I raised it.
The Nordkalotten Foundation is fantastic, with 145 positions that are good and important. But, Johan Pehrson, the problem is much larger than that. Today, the Swedish labor market faces major challenges. We have talked about this very many times. We have problems with matching the right skills that are in demand with the right jobs. Despite knowing that we will see increased unemployment next year, we still see that there is an increased need for skills supply in various sectors. SKR points out, Madam Speaker, that 410,000 people are needed by 2031, so these 145 positions at Nordkalotten will not be able to solve the problem.
We have talked about industry before. There will be 50,000 new jobs in everything from battery manufacturing and mining to electric vehicle production. This means not only job opportunities for Sweden but also challenges. That is why we repeatedly return to the question of a national strategy. Johan Pehrson needs to take greater responsibility for these major challenges on the Swedish labor market today.
Let me comment on a few things that Johan Pehrson raised regarding adult education. In the government's budget bill for 2024, one can see the development of appropriations for the support for adult education, Madam Speaker. For 2023, Johan Pehrson appropriated 4,494,000,000 kronor. The proposal for 2024 is 4,568,000,000 kronor. This represents an increase of 74 million kronor.
Then we should remember that Johan Pehrson entered 2023 by removing 1 billion from adult education. At the same time, we are in an economic crisis with increased inflation. If we take into account the increased inflation and the economic crisis, which one needs to compensate for - it lies somewhere around 4 percent - we can see that a different figure appears here. Rather, we see that it is minus on the account, Johan Pehrson. It is therefore not more investments in adult education. But we Social Democrats have presented a budget alternative where we spend 800 million kronor more than Johan Pehrson and the government on adult education.
Johan Pehrson speaks about investments in labor market policy. The interesting thing is that Johan Pehrson removes 2 billion from active labor market policy. There is less money in appropriations to Arbetsförmedlingen but also less money for programs and initiatives to equip people with labor market training and for other types of measures to ensure that people are equipped for the vacant jobs that now exist in Sweden. 400,000 people - SKR. 50,000 - the industry. Johan Pehrson refers to the Nordkalotten Foundation, with 145 places. That is not quite what I am looking for, Johan Pehrson.
All these cuts within the labor market policy and adult education are worrying. If Sweden is to manage the skills supply, more measures are needed.
Again: Does Minister Johan Pehrson consider the measures he has presented so far to be sufficient to handle the competence shortage we are talking about? How should the municipalities in northern Sweden, the business community, and others who are affected interpret the Minister? What is your answer, Johan Pehrson, as the person responsible for this issue, to all those who are listening?
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! It is correct – we take responsibility for fighting inflation. The parties take responsibility for fighting inflation. Regions and municipalities are struggling with varying priorities to fight inflation. But Serkan Köse seems to think that one should just go ahead with full steam ahead.
We must bring down inflation. I see how the forecasts are coming in now and how the market is pricing in upcoming interest rate cuts. We must get inflation out of the Swedish economy. Liberal leaders like Bertil Ohlin have nagged about this here in this chamber for decades. There is no other way to achieve prosperity, investment, and lasting and sustainable growth than to get inflation out.
This is a difficult task, especially since Sweden unfortunately, according to the Social Democrats, is supposed to have its own currency. When we do not ensure that we have a stable, stronger and safer currency, we import inflation. We are in a difficult situation. But we take responsibility for the inflation.
Regarding the work to realize this, the previous coordinator, appointed by the Social Democrats, has partially moved his operations to Tillväxtverket. Next year, he will present an important investigation. He ties together municipalities, regions, companies, and all other actors that exist, not least with the state. We are listening carefully to what we can do to coordinate the efforts to support the important green industrialization of Sweden. The investments continue. I see that former Social Democratic ministers are now stepping right into these companies.
Most recently, it was my predecessor Eva Nordmark who stepped into Talga, a large Australian mining company. It is to build important parts for Sweden's batteries in this fantastic transition, which is so necessary for us to meet the climate, Madam Speaker.
I see that other former ministers are stepping into other large companies in the same industry to lead the transition. That is welcome. They bring insights into why one did not progress further in this work and what caused delays when the Social Democrats sat with parties that perhaps did not always enjoy growth and forward-looking perspectives.
People often like the green. It is difficult to be against the green transition. On the other hand, it is based on growth. Sweden can manage it thanks to capable and forward-looking companies. It is therefore, again, Madam Speaker, that we deliver more educational places.
Post-pandemic we had a different system. The Social Democrats had no own proposal to retain this, in any case not according to what I saw. We add 2,000 to these new expansive regions specifically targeted at them. We train more engineers who, together with the teams, can help for example the battery builders and those in the mines with leading the transition.
I am confident that we are on the right track. I want to return to the point that one must pass the marshmallow test. One must manage to fight through the tough times that inflation is. If we do not do that, no economic policy will be successful.
I advise Serkan Köse and other forward-looking Social Democrats to speak with their representatives who now sit on the boards of these large companies that do things and invest in Sweden.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! It is always interesting to debate with Johan Pehrson. It becomes a discussion about apples and pears at the same time. It is very difficult to orient oneself regarding the question we are discussing. Now Johan Pehrson suddenly stepped in and spoke about former Social Democratic ministers and their work tasks. Johan Pehrson can take them with him.
Inflation is dangerous, absolutely. It is important that we do everything we can to fight inflation. It must be eliminated by all means. We are in complete agreement on that, Johan Pehrson. But at the same time, it is interesting that Johan Pehrson does not say a word about the fact that the big banks in Sweden are making a profit of over 120 billion kronor while very many families with children do not have food on the table.
The difference between me and Johan Pehrson is that I fight to create a more equal society. Everyone should contribute according to their ability and receive according to their need. That is the political difference between the politics that I represent and the politics that Johan Pehrson represents.
The big banks are making profits of over 120 billion today, Johan Pehrson. Does Johan Pehrson think it is okay, while talking about fighting inflation at the same time as very many do not have food on the table? They are lowering the tax for high-income earners. That is Johan Pehrson's policy. But that is not what we are talking about, Johan Pehrson.
What we are talking about is that Sweden today has a gigantic opportunity. We have an enormous industrialization in Sweden that we are all proud of. We are proud that it is going very well for Sweden.
But it was the Social Democratic government that initiated the entire Industriklivet, which Johan Pehrson's party said no to back in 2018. It had 0 kronor in the budget for the industrialization that Johan Pehrson is very proud of today. It was a product of the Social Democratic policy.
I am glad that Johan Pehrson and I meet today and agree that industry is needed and that the entire green transition is important for Sweden. But for us to manage it, Johan Pehrson, you must take a step forward.
You must ensure that there are resources so that people can be equipped for the vacant jobs that exist today. For adult education and labor market training, you are in the red, Johan Pehrson.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! In these difficult times, we ensure that we increase the benefits for students. We increase the benefits for people who are on sick leave. We increase the benefits for people who need housing allowance. We increase the benefits for guaranteed pensioners. We do this to keep the most vulnerable unharmed in these difficult times. We also lower the tax for low- and middle-income earners for next year.
I hear that Serkan Köse is forgetting history. He looks at how the banks are now making large profits. Has he forgotten that we had to rebuild the banks after the last financial crisis? The Social Democrats are always there and meddling in an industry.
The banks' profits will decrease when interest rates fall. It is very simple. They will decrease when we strengthen the opportunities for ordinary people to be able to move their mortgages and more easily ensure that they get a better deal by increasing competition. That is the way forward.
But everywhere we go, there must be Social Democratic state interventions. It is fantastic that, in that case, more did not occur during the years that Serkan Köse had to move people from Central Sweden and southern Sweden up to northern Sweden. It is now that it is happening. It is now that Skellefteå increases its population, by 1,000 people last year. We hope that it will continue to increase now as well.
I know that Serkan Köse means well. He wants to ensure that people who are unemployed and without education move to the jobs that exist. We must help each other in this work. I am completely certain that Serkan Köse and I will continue to discuss this with great joy and energy even next year.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.