Living and working in Living and working in SwedenSweden

Torino October 2007Torino October 2007

ContentContent

• Facts

• Working and work law

• Professions and labour market

• Trade unions and unemployment insurance

• Social insurance

……more contentmore content

• Registration and ID-numbers

• Taxes

• Housing

• Cost of living

• Useful web-addresses

Public Employment Public Employment ServicesServices

(Arbetsförmedlingen)(Arbetsförmedlingen)Service through:

- Internet www.arbetsformedlingen.se (24 hour service)

- by telephone via Customer Service Centres (7 day service)

- The Public Employment Office – “Arbetsförmedlingen” (over 300 offices)

Sweden factsSweden facts

• 9 Million inhabitants, 85% live in mid or southern Sweden.

• The “Mälardalen” region around Stockholm has 2.6

million inhabitants.

• Öresund region (Malmö-Copenhagen) very expansive.

• Since 1995 member of the EU

• In Schengen, but not EMU.

KirunaKiruna

450.

000

km

2

450.

000

km

2

21 Counties

290 Municipalities

Ystad

Stockholm

Malmö

Göteborg

1800 km 20 inhabitants / km2

Kiruna

Umeå

Absolut SwedishAbsolut Swedish

• Using tu and first names not titles

• During summer is Sweden “closed”

• Using Internet is common in Sweden

• Systembolaget

• “Allemansrätt” in the nature

Italians in SwedenItalians in Sweden

•The first Italians came to Sweden in 1947 to Malmö

for working in the Swedish industry.

•During 1940s and 1960s came approximately 500

Italians each year to Sweden.

•Italian organisations were created and today there

exists 17.

ArrivalArrival

•All citizens from EEA and Switzerland have free

mobility. •No transitional rules to Sweden•Registration of right of residency required for stays

longer than three months www.migrationsverket.se •Work permits are required for Non EEA/Swiss

citizens. Restrictive policy on issue.

Working and work law…Working and work law…

• 40 hours week• Minimum 25 days of paid holiday• No national minimum wage

• Strong trade unions• Collective agreements

(between trade unions and employers org) • Forms of contracts: Permanent (the norm),

Project or temporary.• Trial period max 6 months

… … Working and work lawWorking and work law

• Flat organisations

• Teamwork and equal opportunities

• Expected to take own initiatives

• Average wage SEK 25000 (Sept 2007):

SEK 27100 (men), SEK 22.800 (women)

• Unemployment rate 3.7 % (July 2007)

Applying for Work in SwedenApplying for Work in Sweden

• E-mail is an accepted mode for applications.

• An application should be typewritten in Swedish or English.

• Generally you do not enclose a photo.

• An application consists of:

- personal letter (no more than 1 page, often less)

- your CV (1-2 pages)

- references (can also be given at the interview)

• You may be asked to present evidence of professional

qualifications and diplomas later on.

Regulated professionsRegulated professions

Recognition of qualifications and diplomas

• General information and teaching professions

www.hsv.se

• Health care and medical professions

www.socialstyrelsen.se

• Some craft and trade workers by trades

organisation (examples electrician, hairdresser)

Labour Market SituationLabour Market Situation- shortages -- shortages -

HEALTHCARE Doctors Dentists Nurses /Specialists Midwives

TEACHING Teachers /Upper secondary school, vocational subjects Pre-school teachers

(Spring 2007)

Labour Market SituationLabour Market Situation- shortages -- shortages -

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

• Electricians

• Plumbers (Ventilation and Sanitation)

• Construction Workers (painters, bricklayers, concrete

workers, electricians)

• Sheet metal workers

• Engineers(Spring 2007)

Labour Market SituationLabour Market Situation- shortages -- shortages -

TRANSPORT • Truck Mechanics • Sheet Metal Workers • Car Body Repairers (panel work) • Car Mechanics

INDUSTRY • Tool Makers • Welders • Machine Tool Operators (NC/CNC)

(Spring 2007)

Labour Market SituationLabour Market Situation- shortages -- shortages -

ENGINEERING• Building Services Engineers• Mechanical engineers• Heating and Ventilation Engineers• Electrical engineers• Thermal Insulation Engineers

OTHER PROFESSIONS • Cooks

(Spring 2007)

Taxes Taxes

www.skatteverket.se

• Special income tax 25% for non-residents (max 6 months)• Council tax 26-34% (PAYE system)• State tax on yearly incomes over 316700• VAT

Social InsuranceSocial Insurance

The Insurance Office www.fk.se

Financed by taxes and employer’s feesMain fields:

-Health insurance. First 14 days by employer. First day unpaid, from day 2 based on salary.

-Parental insurance. 480 days, 390+90.

……Social InsuranceSocial Insurance

Pensions

Child allowance. From 1050 SEK/month.

Child care. Sick child under 12 years,

max 60 days per year

Housing allowance

Rehabilitations

NOT unemployment insurance

Unemployment BenefitsUnemployment Benefits

• www.iaf.se • Are not a part of the Social Benefits scheme.• Consists of two parts:

1. Basic insurance (Alfakassan): For all workers after a qualifying period: No membership requirement, max 320 SEK/day

2. Voluntary insurance: You must apply to become a member of an Unemployment Insurance Fund and pay contributions. After the qualification period, 80% of earlier income, max 680 SEK/day

• 300 days

AccommodationAccommodation

• Rent an apartment or house Example: 1 bedroom apartment, average rent 4,150 SEK/month (January 2006, www.scb.se )

• Buy an apartment

• Buy a house

Accommodation costs vary greatly

Food CostsFood Costs

Loaf of bread 13-15 SEK

Butter, 500 g 20 SEK

Minced meat, 1 kg 50 SEK

Hamburger 25 SEK

Pizza 40-80 SEK

Today’s Special 60-75 SEK

Beer in a bar, 50 cl 50 SEK

Glass of wine in a bar 55 SEK

Useful Web AddressesUseful Web Addresses

Finding a jobwww.arbetsformedlingen.se http://eures.europa.eu www.eniro.se www.onlinenewspapers.com/sweden.htm

Applying for a job, CV templateshttp://eures.europa.eu

Useful Web AddressesUseful Web Addresses

Population, Civic Registration and Taxeswww.skatteverket.se

Social Insurancewww.fk.se

Work and Residence permit and Right of residence cardwww.migrationsverket.se

Swedish Embassieswww.swedenabroad.com

Useful Web AddressesUseful Web Addresses

Living and Working Conditionshttp://eures.europa.eu www.sweden.se www.si.se

The Swedish School systemwww.skolverket.se

The National Health Boardwww.sos.se

Recognition of Foreign Diplomaswww.hsv.se

Thank You for listening!Thank You for listening!

Catarina YstehedEURES AdviserArbetsförmedlingen/EURES StockholmNorrtullsgatan 6, Box 6046 S- 102 31 StockholmTel+46 (0)10 487 13 98, fax +46 (0)8 508 822 01 catarina.ystehed@lanab.amv.se