WORK IN SWEDEN. Your guide.

Transcription

1 WORK IN SWEDEN Your guide.

2 1 THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING SWEDEN We are very pleased that you have chosen to work in Sweden. You have chosen well, for many different reasons. The Swedish labour market is renowned for combining innovation, generous work benefits and job security. To maintain its success in these areas, Sweden needs you. We hope this guide will be of help to you during your initial time in Sweden. It contains some brief facts about Swedish society, and you will learn more about what applies at a Swedish workplace and what your rights and obligations are as an employee. It also provides some tips on where you can find more information and assistance.

3 3 SWEDISH SOCIETY Modern Sweden is solidly founded on democracy. Democratic principles shape not only the way the country is governed, but all levels of society from preschool to the workplace. Everyone has the same rights and a chance to have their say. In Sweden we enjoy a free press, the right to participate in demonstrations, freedom of speech and the right to question those in power. Transparency reduces the risk of abuses of power. This is reflected in Sweden s top rankings over the years as one of the least corrupt nations in the world. Sweden also has one of the highest levels of gender equality in the world. This is based on the belief that when women and men share power and influence equally you get a more just and democratic society. A well-developed welfare system makes it easier for both sexes to balance their work and family life. Of course, equality covers more than gender gaps; it is about offering everyone the same chances regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age. Sweden has a long history of promoting equal rights for all through legislation and by openly taking a stand against all kinds of discrimination.

4 4 A GOOD CHOICE The Swedish welfare state often referred to abroad as the Swedish model is a social and economic system guided by the principles of full employment, equal pay for equal work, and universal welfare for the community as a whole. Wages are on a par with those in other industrialised countries, and people in Sweden generally enjoy a high standard of living. A long tradition of active labour-market policies and powerful unions has meant that workers rights are well protected. Almost 80 per cent of Swedish workers are union members. One of the unions main roles is to pursue and support collective bargaining. All employees in Sweden have at least five weeks paid holiday per year and most people are also off work on all Swedish public holidays. When working in Sweden you are entitled to paid sick leave, and the Swedish parental-leave scheme allows parents to stay home from work to look after their young children for a total of 480 days per child. If you become unemployed and belong to an unemployment fund, you are entitled to unemployment benefit. 5 THE TAX SYSTEM Paying taxes in Sweden is very straightforward: employers pay payroll tax on top of your salary every month, income tax (about 30 per cent) is deducted directly from your monthly salary, and value-added tax is included in the price of food, goods and services. Every person is taxed individually, even when married. If everything appears correct on your mandatory, pre-printed annual tax return, reporting your taxes may simply involve sending a text message from your mobile phone to the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) to confirm this. It is also easy to see where your tax money goes in Sweden. Health care, education and public transport in this country are widely seen as among the best in the world. Government military spending is quite low, while peacekeeping missions and foreign aid are top priorities. For further information:

5 7 WORK CLIMATE The Swedish work climate is generally open and informal. We call the boss by her or his first name, encourage teamwork, dress casually and strive for gender equality. In Sweden, people feel it is healthy to find a balance between work and private life. Flexible working hours are an example of this. At many offices, leaving early to collect a child from preschool is considered acceptable behaviour, as long as the employee makes up for the lost time on another occasion. A unique feature of Swedish working life is the coffee break (fika). It gives employees and their bosses an opportunity to meet on equal terms and talk informally. If you want to make a good impression on Swedes be punctual. We like to begin meetings on time and stick to the agenda.

6 9 YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK People who come to Sweden to work are covered by the laws and agreements that apply in the Swedish labour market. The rules are spelled out in laws, collective agreements and local agreements. When working in Sweden, you have the same rights and obligations as all other permanent residents. This means for instance that you are entitled to a safe, healthy workplace whatever form of employment, background, nationality or ethnicity you may have. It is always your employer who has overall responsibility for the safety and security of you and your colleagues, i.e. for all physical, mental and social working conditions. Employers are expected to reach agreement with their employees and work safety representatives on how the daily working environment is to be kept healthy and safe. The Work Environment Act (Arbetsmiljölagen) lays down what employers and others responsible for safety matters are required to do to prevent ill-health and accidents at work. The act also specifies the importance of creating a good working environment. This applies to all

7 10 11 aspects of your workplace, from adequate safety requirements for machinery and equipment to an acceptable pace of work. A good working environment also means for instance that lighting must be satisfactory and that noise levels are not excessive. The Swedish Working Hours Act (Arbetstidslagen) applies, with certain exceptions, to all work performed in Sweden. It applies to all companies, whether Swedish or foreign, as long as they operate in this country. The law sets out rules on how many hours you are allowed to work per day, week and year. Apart from regular working hours and overtime, it covers time on call and standby time, the right to breaks and pauses, and what applies with regard to night rest (between midnight and 05.00). As regards daily rest, the law states that all employees must have 11 consecutive hours of free time in every period of 24 hours. Every workplace with at least five employees must have at least one safety representative (skyddsombud). This person is chosen by the employees at the workplace themselves. Besides representing them in safety matters, he or she monitors the working environment to ensure that it is satisfactory from a safety viewpoint. If your work poses an immediate and serious threat to life or health, and the employer fails to remove the risk at once, the safety representative is entitled to suspend the work pending a decision by the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket). In Sweden, no one may be subjected to discrimination. This means that no one may be treated unfairly on grounds of gender, transgender identity or expression ethnic origin religion or other belief disability sexual orientation, or age. It is also prohibited to harass someone. If you feel that you have been subjected to harassment in any form in connection with your work, your employer must investigate the matter. The employer s responsibility in this applies to all workers, including those carrying out temporary assignments. For further information:

8 12 13 APPLICATION PROCESS You have received an offer of employment from an employer in Sweden. You and your employer have agreed on your terms, including length of employment, pay and insurance. You complete your application for a residence and work permit at the Swedish Migration Board website: When applying, you pay a fee of SEK 2, The Migration Board processes your application. 4. Once the Migration Board has reached a decision, you are notified of this. As proof that your permit has been granted, you will receive a residence permit card (uppehållstillståndskort). WORK PERMIT INFORMATION If you wish to continue working after your permit expires, apply to extend it. You apply to the Migration Board. If you have had a work permit for at least six months and apply to the Migration Board before it expires, you may continue working while awaiting a decision. Your work permit is restricted to work with the employer and in the occupation stated in your decision from the Migration Board. If you terminate your employment yourself or are dismissed, you may remain in Sweden and apply for a new job for three months. If you are unable to find a new job within three months, the Swedish Migration Board may revoke your permit. For further information:

9 14 PLAN YOUR MOVE One of the first things to consider before moving to Sweden is finding a place to live. Depending on where your job is located, the process of finding a flat or house may vary. Wherever you plan to move, leave plenty of extra time for your housing search. When you arrive in Sweden, you and all the members of your family must have the following documents with you: A valid passport and ID card from your country of origin A valid work and residence permit A marriage certificate or a registered partnership certificate for an accompanying partner A birth certificate for each accompanying child For further information: work.sweden.se. 15 FIRST DAYS IN SWEDEN During your first few days in Sweden, you should register with both the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) and the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), and open a Swedish bank account. The Tax Agency issues personal identity numbers/ co-ordination numbers and ID cards. You must be registered with the Social Insurance Agency in order to receive compensation when you are on sick leave or parental leave. To receive pay from your employer, you need a Swedish bank account. You also need to inform the Social Insurance Agency if you move from Sweden. All of the above organisations cooperate with one another and share information, such as your income, leave from work, marital status or address. Supplying inaccurate information or failing to inform any of the organisations of changes to your personal situation may be subject to penalties.

10 16 LEARN SWEDISH Swedish Institute: Your ability to speak the language will improve your career prospects and help you to get more out of life in Sweden. The Swedish Institute offers an online Swedish course that allows you to get started before you arrive. It also has cooperation agreements with 240 universities in 40 different countries, so be sure to check if Swedish courses are offered at a university in the country where you currently live, Swedish Migration Board: Call or visit SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) offers free courses specifically for people who have recently moved to Sweden. SFI is a basic, tax-funded Swedish course provided free of charge for those who migrate to Sweden. To qualify, you need to be registered with the Swedish tax authority. Because the courses are administered by your local municipality, you will need to apply directly there in order to begin a course. Some employers will sponsor Swedish classes for foreign employees, so be sure to ask your future employer about language study opportunities. Swedish Social Insurance Agency: Swedish Tax Agency: Swedish Work Environment Authority: Call or visit Facts about Sweden: Guide to working in Sweden: work.sweden.se The Swedish Institute, the Swedish Work Environment Authority and the Swedish Migration Board, 2013 Translation: Stephen Croall Printed by: Trydells tryckeri in Laholm, Sweden, 2013 ISBN: Photos: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se; Jörgen Wiklund/Bildarkivet; Kristin Lidell/imagebank.sweden.se; Lena Granefelt/imagebank.sweden.se; Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se; Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se; Cecilia Larsson/imagebank.sweden.se

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