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Politics

Liberals call for low wage apprenticeships

Published: 29 Jun 09 12:13 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20348/20090629/

Speaking at a seminar in Visby on Monday, Liberal Party (Folkpartiet) leader Jan Björklund proposed an apprenticeship system for young people as a way to counteract youth unemployment in Sweden.

Their proposed youth employment scheme would be available both during and after high school up to age 21, according to the party's proposal presented in conjunction with Almedalen Week on Gotland.

The position would mean lower wages than the lowest salary currently paid in the labour market as well as limited job protection. According to the Liberals, the possibility to work during high school would give young people a closer connection to the labour market, as well as the development of personal networks. This would make it easier for young people to enter the job market.

“Our neighbouring countries have this and they have lower youth unemployment,” Björklund said.

He stressed that it is better for a young person to have a low salary than to be dependent on social benefits.

“That's the core idea,” said Björklund.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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14:15 June 29, 2009 by Nifty
Reminiscent of press gangs in the Old Blighty.This Björklund would'nt happen to own a company would he?Low wages for the workers means a larger summer hus for the boss.Slavery innit.
14:34 June 29, 2009 by Staffs
Nifty,

Actually it is the route to freedom, a good apprenticeship now learning skills that can be used in the local market well into old age, and out of the grasping clutches of the tax man as a bonus, is far more useful than a mdia studies degree.

I did an apprenticeship, take home pay £30 per week and 2 nights at college for 4 years. Now I'm earning over £100k per year and choose my own hours.
14:45 June 29, 2009 by Harding00
I am doing praktik (work training, internship thingy) through SFI. I stock shelves at a grocery store eight hours a day, three days a week, and I get paid 161 kronor per day before tax (and yes, that was per day, not per hour). Sure I am doing it to learn Swedish, but it is ridiculously low, and it isn't the store paying me, it's Arbetsförmedlingen (the cities employment services). But like I said, I do it to learn Swedish, to supplement my SFI class.
15:24 June 29, 2009 by vladd777
I agree with the apprentice system because the theory and the practical are co-ordinated which makes learning easier and more interesting. At the same time one gets cash in hand which,although may not at first be all that much, usually increases as the course progresses.

Not all people are academically minded and learning a trade can, in the long run, be very lucrative.
16:10 June 29, 2009 by PicaQ
This is not slavery. At least they'll be paid for leaning a trade or receive some sort of training before being potentially hired by that certain company. At least it's better than being an intern, who does work for no pay but for "experience".
16:21 June 29, 2009 by Mister E
This just legitimizes paying young people crap wages. This kind of program is all the rage in France (they call it a "stage") and look what it got them - 25% unemployment among people aged 18-25. Why pay someone to do a job when you can just have an apprentice do it for free? When one apprentice leaves, another one comes in, and the cycle continues.

If companies are required to pay their employees normally right from the start then they are having to make an INVESTMENT in somebody. You don't throw away something you've made an investment in. Someone you've never had to pay, on a contract with no job rights, is someone disposable.

All work deserves pay! Don't work for free!
17:30 June 29, 2009 by theKingRich
You're missing the point, Björklund!

Let people and companies have the freedom to agree on their OWN salaries and wages!

If I'm living at home, I wouldn't mind a VERY low paying job to cover my travel/bus expenses to/from work. This gives me experience which would sit nicely on my resume, and increase my chances of getting a better job down the line.

If I want to work for free, LET ME, so I can have more experience than Mister E, here...
18:27 June 29, 2009 by Harding00
Mister E, It's all how you look at it, but I think that that is why they are only allowing it for those under the age of 21. But I do agree, the biggest problem with things like this, and other temp type jobs, are that the employees tend to get fired easy, have no benefits and get paid low wages. But from a strictly educational side, I think it could be a good idea. I am in the middle on the idea.
18:38 June 29, 2009 by High Priestess Kang - Slut
How is this program any different from non-compensation internships?

Contrary to popular opinion, while the company may not be paying the intern/apprentice a salary they're still absorbing the cost of training, etc...
19:47 June 29, 2009 by BillyB
Apprentices call for Low wages for Liberals
00:21 June 30, 2009 by Playmaker
i did this in america to become a electrican after military. i had no experince and started out as $7 an hour. then joined the union. here in sweden you have to work for free where in the states i was paid for the same tasks. i remember thinking this is child slave labor. we have a 16 and 17 year old in the co. where i work. they work 40hrs for free. that is crazy.... ofcourse they should be paid at least. ofcourse it will be low pay for they dont know sh*t and you have to tell them everything and then check there work all the time. plus it gives you milestone to look forword to. when i left MO. i was making $29.50hr. it made for a good life and i think this is real good based on personal experance. sorry for the typos
07:12 June 30, 2009 by Jeffi
People do not value what they get for free, in the labour market. Volunteers are generally seen as people with lots of free time on their hands and volunteer experience on a resume is seen as "Oh, so you weren't good enough to get paid a real wage, eh? Next!". From an HR recruitment perspective I am quite aware of this and while job creation schemes are generally a beneficial thing for young people, it needs to be marketed properly. Low wage apprenticeships just don't sit well when one gets older UNLESS... it is a trade such as electrician, plumber etc. And companies which accept low wage, non-trade "apprentices" do not generally spend much time training them. They fill grunt jobs, high-turnover positions.
10:52 June 30, 2009 by SaltWater
This is just cheaper work, in Portugal we became to a point that people get years working for free! This is not good for welfare, it's just cheap work for some rich people get more ferraris!
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