Response to interpellation 2025/26:160 on the government's work to counter discrimination
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the government's work to counter discrimination. L argues that the government is working at a high pace to strengthen protection against discrimination, including the implementation of the pay transparency directive and action plans against racism and for hbtqi persons' rights 1 2 3. L also emphasizes that the focus has shifted to the crime victim 2 4. S questions the implementation of the action plans due to the government's basis' history and policy 5 6. S criticizes that ILO 190 has not been ratified despite a completed proposal 5 6 7 and argues that support for crime victims has decreased through cuts 7. S also requests a timetable for expanded anti-discrimination legislation 6 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.
Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)
Mr. Speaker! Sofia Amloh has asked me if I intend to take further measures to ensure effective anti-discrimination work. I would like to thank the member for the question and the commitment.
In a time when human rights are questioned and challenged in several parts of the world, it is particularly important to safeguard people's equal rights and opportunities. The work of combating discrimination must therefore continue and requires active participation from a wide range of actors.
The work that the Equality Ombudsman and civil society organizations do is important to create conditions for everyone's equal rights and opportunities. The Government will continue the work of strengthening protection against discrimination. The work on the implementation of the European Parliament and Council's directive on strengthening the application of the principle of equal pay for women and men for equal or equivalent work, the so-called pay transparency directive, is ongoing. The Government will return with a bill with proposals to implement the directive in Swedish law.
The government has also adopted an action plan against racism and hate crimes and an action plan for the equal rights and opportunities of hbtqi persons. The action plans constitute important steps in the work for a Sweden free from discrimination.
Sofia Amloh (S)
Mr. Speaker! The Minister states in his response that the government has developed two action plans, one against racism and hate crimes and one for the rights of LGBTQI persons. There is nothing wrong with that; in fact, it is very good. But I want to ask the Minister how the government intends for these action plans to be implemented when the government's support rests on the Sweden Democrats at a time when Nazis and activist clubs are trampling on our streets. Säpo has warned and alerted that they are organizing themselves, but the government turns the other cheek.
When Sweden Democrat politicians do not salute at election rallies, they collect Nazi memorabilia and idol pictures of Hitler or have several copies of Mein Kampf in their collection box. It is clear what government base this government has chosen for itself.
Mr. Speaker! In what way will the action plans be implemented so that they achieve the effect that needs to be reached? It is most clearly evident that the action plans are timely, but the implementation concerns me when one has the Sverigedemokraterna as a government basis.
Mr. Speaker! The Equality Ombudsman issues an annual report describing what the situation looks like and the state of discrimination in society across the country. Discrimination occurs throughout society but most in working life and in school. For 2025, the Equality Ombudsman notes that the levels are still high and that it is most common in working life, and I therefore want to bring up some of the matters that are highlighted in the annual report.
The first thing is that harassment and sexual harassment occur in working life. It can happen between two employees but also between an employer and an employee. It has also been seen that a third party can subject someone to harassment or sexual harassment. It can be a customer or someone one cares for.
I recall that we have indeed had a debate here on this. In any case, I have read a report from Handelsanställdas förbund in which it is described that, above all, young women with insecure forms of employment are incredibly vulnerable to various types of harassment in the Swedish labor market.
Against this background, I also know that ILO Convention 190 is on the government's desk. It has already been fully investigated and should be able to be implemented in Swedish legislation. The Social Democratic government handed over a completely finished proposal on international commitments to this government. I wonder why this proposal has not been implemented. It is clearly lying on the table, and it is actually just a matter of presenting it to the Riksdag for a decision, especially considering that there is a strong political consensus on it. Why have measures not been taken to reduce this type of harassment and strengthen the legislation?
Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)
Mr. Speaker! Let me begin with Member Sofia Amloh's question regarding the execution, which she is concerned about. After three years, it is clear with all desired clarity that this government has no problems with the execution. Most recently today, we moved forward with constitutional amendments concerning restrictions on very serious system-threatening activity. This concerns, for example, the activity clubs. As Minister for Equality, I was able earlier this autumn to present the largest equality budget ever. We have changed and tightened the legislation in a number of areas and shifted the focus from the perpetrator to the crime victim. It is a completely decisive issue for equality and the perspective of human rights.
We naturally continue our incredibly tough work at a high pace. We will return on a number of different areas. This applies in particular to the area of discrimination, which Member Sofia Amloh raises in her interpellation, in which she also links the issue to the Equality Ombudsman. The authority is currently preparing the introduction of the directive on pay transparency. This directive will to a very high degree improve the opportunities for women and employers to manage pay issues in an open and more transparent way. It will counteract unreasonable pay differences.
Sofia Amloh raises sexual harassment, which is a part of this. It is extremely important to continue working on these issues, which we do in several different ways. The government previously introduced gender as a basis for hate crimes during the term. It is a completely crucial issue for strengthening women's rights.
Regarding school and working life, the department is currently working on a work environment strategy that has a particular focus on the area of equality. Minister for Employment Johan Britz will follow up on this.
Sofia Amloh (S)
Mr. Speaker! I note that the Minister is not at all concerned that the governing coalition's history and the ongoing actual racist acts of the Sweden Democrats' leading politicians – Members of Parliament – is something that keeps recurring. She also does not seem to believe that it would have any impact whatsoever on the implementation of action plans against precisely racism and hate crimes. When it comes to the rights of hbtqi persons, the governing coalition, which is several times larger than the Liberals, has not at all promoted them, and they do not hide that. The Ministers obviously do not see that there are any concerns regarding achieving implementation here. That actually makes me even more concerned.
I still want answers to the question of why ILO 190 and the international commitments we have been completely in agreement on have not been ratified. They have been on the government's desk for nearly four years. Everything is completely prepared, and it is something that everyone is asking for. I do not understand why the government has not presented this to the Riksdag. It would have become a government bill that took a place on a rather empty list from the Ministry of Employment. I believe many would appreciate it. I do not understand why the government does not present the requested proposals that there is a broad political consensus on.
Let me return to something else reported in the Equality Ombudsman's report. In addition to what I have already pointed out, there is another matter that is very important for many of us, not least for the Liberals. In connection with the government proceeding with the introduction of visitation zones, the prohibition in the Discrimination Act would be expanded. The law does not, in fact, cover all situations in the labor market or out in society. For example, the protection of the Discrimination Act is not comprehensive if one is discriminated against in contact with the police or customs. There are investigation proposals regarding this from 2021. The government sent press releases about this in 2024, and they have stood in many contexts and said that this shall be implemented.
My question to the Minister is: When is this to be implemented? It is a promise that has been given many times, but it is still missing from the Riksdag's table. Will this be implemented? It is high time. It is starting to get a bit tight on time this mandate period. When has one intended to plan this? It is also not included on the list of legislative proposals to be presented in the spring.
Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)
Mr. Speaker! Many thanks, Sofia Amloh, for the questions regarding the anti-discrimination legislation!
Today, a prohibition against discrimination applies in certain parts of public activities, for example, labor market policy activities and within social services. In other parts of public activities, the protection is limited. If, for example, a police officer or a customs official uses discriminatory language in connection with counseling or contact with the public, this is covered by the prohibition. Today's prohibition does not, however, apply to measures that are taken.
Just as the member points out, this is something that this government has signaled and highlighted previously. Strong recommendations have also come from international bodies to take this further. We note that today's legislation means that individuals have weaker protection against discrimination when contacting certain authorities compared to others.
We intend to return to this issue; it has been announced. We will return regarding expanded protection against discrimination when it concerns public activities. I will be able to return to Member Sofia Amloh at a later stage regarding the exact timeline for that.
When it comes to the government's ability to implement decisions and to move forward on important issues with respect to coalition partners, I expect and assume that people will behave. If people do not behave, I also expect all parties to take measures against it.
I can state that this government has no problems with cooperating. This government has a high tempo and has taken an enormous number of measures, especially within the area of equality and not least within the area of honor-related violence and oppression – not least it is about shifting the focus from the perpetrator to the crime victim.
Sofia Amloh (S)
Mr. Speaker! I did not expect that we would take it up in this specific debate, but when the Minister several times points out that the focus is being shifted to support for crime victims, which is very good, I must nevertheless point out that they have cut several million on precisely Brottsofferjouren, which actually has to reduce its staffing. Consequently, they may not have the availability that would be needed. What is said in words and what is done in action do not quite align when it comes to the support for crime victims.
I would like to conclude by stating, Mr. Speaker, that the government says that things are being prepared and that things are in motion, but we never see them on the Riksdag's table. They do not get to exactly the things that are needed.
Throughout this entire parliamentary term, a completely finished proposal regarding ILO 190 has been on the table, concerning strengthening legislation against sexual harassment from third parties, but nothing has been done, Mr. Speaker. Now one stands here and still cannot answer when it comes to this.
The same applies to the expansion of the Discrimination Act. Promises are made and it is said that proposals exist; they intend to return. I want to remind the Minister that we here in the Riksdag will soon go on Christmas break, and when we return, there are only a few months left of the mandate period to enact and implement legislation. Now, one stands here shortly before Christmas and has a spring term ahead but cannot present any proposal, which is to be done in a list of government bills during the spring term. There is no such proposal, so I actually doubt the capacity for action until I see it on the table.
Jämställdhetsministern Nina Larsson (L)
Mr. Speaker! Many thanks, Member Sofia Amloh, for the commitment!
We could go through the lists of government bills from the previous government and this government and compare at what pace and to what extent different changes have been realized. We can also compare how many times one fell, for example in budget votes, in the chamber of the Riksdag where we are now, in comparison with how it looks for this government. Those figures show that we are maintaining an incredibly high pace.
I understand that Member Sofia Amloh is eager and is requesting precisely these promised changes, for example regarding the anti-discrimination legislation. We will return to exactly when we will have it in place.
I am very proud and happy that earlier today I presented, for example, constitutional changes linked to constitutionally strengthening and protecting the right to abortion in the Swedish constitution. It was something that the previous government managed to do or received support for. Time and again, I could cite such examples.
Member of the Board Sofia Amloh does not need to be worried about the government's decisiveness. We continue at a high pace.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.