Liberals propose state unemployment insurance
Published: 27 May 10 08:07 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/26874/20100527/
The Liberal Party (Folkpartiet) has reiterated its call for a state-run unemployment insurance fund, party leader Jan Björklund has confirmed.
- Aid cuts would be 'devastating' (18 Jun 13)
- The ultimate love test is a bloody affair (18 Jun 13)
- Boxing defenders knock down ban proposal (17 Jun 13)
"It's highly illogical that it is under union management, all the other social security insurances are state," Björklund said to the Dagens Nyheter daily.
Björklund pointed out that the state currently meets two-thirds of the costs of unemployment insurance schemes.
The demand, which the party executive will consider at the weekend, is therefore likely to become an election issue.
The government, of which the Liberal Party is a member, recently set up a parliamentary inquiry into sickness and unemployment insurance, which is scheduled for completion by 2013. The Liberal Party has now indicated that it is reluctant to wait.
LO chief Wanja Lundby-Wedin has described the move an attack on the Swedish model. The unions want to retain control over the unemployment schemes as it means that most of those working in Sweden are obliged to join and thus become members of the union.
Björklund however dismisses this line of argument and states that Sweden has along and established tradition of union membership.
"I do not think the unions need to be worried, adding that he supports the collective bargaining model between strong partners in the labour market, while social insurances, except currently unemployment insurance funds, are matters for the state."
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Aid cuts would be 'devastating'
Criticism of the government's foreign aid policy is mounting as Swedish ambassadors, aid organizations and politicians slam Development Aid Minister Gunilla Carlsson's announcements that development assistance to several countries may be slashed. READ () »
Swedish forestry firm cuts 2,500 jobs
Forestry giant Stora Enso plans to let another 2,500 employees go, of whom 750 work in Sweden, citing weak markets and deflating profits. READ () »
Sweden among winners in future EU-US deal
Sweden is second in line to benefit the most from an EU free-trade deal with the US, for which negotiations were finally given the all-clear in a move welcomed by pro-business groups in Sweden. READ () »
New Telia CEO 'excited' about the job
TeliaSonera's new head Johan Dennelind believes he is the right man to restore the Swedish telecom giant's reputation after the company's Uzbek bribery scandal. READ () »
ABB board unanimous in pick of CEO
Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB has appointed a new CEO, who has a background in oil and gas, utilities, telecoms and automotive industries and who was a key player in the acquisition of Baldor. READ () »
Wine pulled because it was 'too good': supplier
Sweden's state-run liquor store monopoly has sent back 6,000 bottles of a Spanish wine because it tasted better than expected, according to a Swedish alcohol supplier. READ () »
Sweden may cut aid to Palestinian territories
Development aid minister Gunilla Carlsson has said that the Swedish government may reduce development assistance for the Palestinians since they have failed to reach a peace agreement with Israel. READ () »
Gothenburg corruption blamed on city culture
A hierarchical "Gothenburg Spirit" among politicians and civil servants contributed to a culture of corruption in the past decade, concluded a report on Sweden's second largest city. READ () »
Sweden abandons bid to lift EU snus export ban
The Swedish government has given up its efforts to force the European Union to scrap its ban on the export of snus, choosing instead to focus on protecting the popular moist tobacco product's use in Sweden. READ () »
'Swedish work-visa window too narrow'
Since 2008, migrants to Sweden can swap course from seeking asylum to seeking a work visa with the help of an employer. The Local speaks to one migrant who praises the system, while saying it could be improved. READ () »
- 12/06 Bankruptcy hits major Swedish free school firm »
- 11/06 US judge rejects Saab bankruptcy lawsuit »
- 10/06 Wolf 'massacre' leaves over 20 sheep dead »
- 10/06 AstraZeneca snaps up US inhaler company »
- 07/06 Prosecutor seeks docs in TeliaSonera bribes case »
- 07/06 Swedish dads stay home as mothers work »
- 05/06 Sweden's Meda denies India merger rumours »
- 05/06 Ikea founder steps down from key board post »
- 05/06 Google to power data centre with Swedish wind »
- 04/06 New smartphone app for Sweden's high flyers »
| 18/06 | Accounting SpecialistHays | Katowice, SLA |
| 18/06 | Agency General Manager ? Scandinavia | Göteborg |
| 18/06 | C++ Developer | Stockholm |
| 18/06 | Chemical Plant ManagerThe Valspar | Hendrik Ido Ambacht (NL) |
| 18/06 | Cloud ArchitectCapgemini Sverige AB | Malmö, SKÅ |
| 18/06 | Compliance Manager - NordicsAce European Group Ltd | Stockholm |
| 18/06 | CPL Ireland - Swedish CollectionsCPL Ireland | Malmö |
| 18/06 | CPL Ireland - Swedish or DanishCPL Ireland | Malmö |
| 18/06 | Enterprise Services Solution Architect | Sverige |
| 18/06 | Financial Reporting Product Manager | Sverige |
- 18/06 German investor confidence on the up »
- 18/06 Commerzbank 'to shed 5,000 jobs' »
- 17/06 Sun sets on Siemens solar division »
- 17/06 Motorists flush away millions in toilet tickets »
- 14/06 Germany joins EU youth unemployment fight »
- 14/06 Canny footballer shoots, scores, is banned »
- 13/06 Rat poison found at Lidl supermarkets »
- 13/06 Berlin: EU can find 'good solution' to US free trade »
- 12/06 German chains 'ignore Turkish shoppers' »
- 12/06 Vodafone makes bid for Kabel Deutschland »
- Goodyear Dunlop Tires Nordic - Head of Business Control
- CPL Ireland - Swedish Collections
- CPL Ireland - Swedish or Danish
- Interaction Recruitment - Swedish
- MGI Recruitment - Swedish Inside Sales
- Projob NL - Swedish and English
- Projob NL - Swedish and English
- RECA Young Professional Program/Trainee
- SITS i Göteborg söker Danslärare
- SITS i Oslo söker Lärare (även
- 02:03 Wedding Dress WANTED!
- 00:22 Campervan in -30?
- 22:50 Planning on moving to Sweden from USA
- 22:46 Was it you I saw in Stockholm?
- 21:53 Swedish health care system
- 19:27 Is Edward Snowden Victim Of Chinese Honey-Trap?
- 17:49 Help with visas!
- 16:58 Study to be a Primary School Teacher
- 15:59 Sweden vehicle emissions laws?
- 14:31 Registering elsewhere in the EU for a 2 days
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
The unions should have no place in attending to the unemployed.
I could never understand why the unions should have to control and administer the unemployment insurance fund.
I think it´s a very good election issue - most of us in Sweden are now realizing how the unions today have lost touch with the real world, all they want is power and money. The workers come last. The Alliance could win just on this point, I guess!
Do you guys really want to let the state take over A-kassa so that it can be run like the state's social insurance agency Försäkringskassan that is state run and complete kaos and where it takes 20 weeks just to register???!!!
It will likely mean that it will be compulsory membership rather than the current optional schemes and that the costs will be hugely more than the 300-600 kronor that people currently pay each month - so it will be a new central government tax which Björklund will call a 'fee'
Sweden already has semi-state run unemployment insurance
- the terms are determined by the state and are uniform for all the schemes except for the amount which varies based on unemployment risks
- you don't have to be a union member to join the unemployment system
- there is a state scheme for those who are not a member - Alfakassan
But you guys who are supporting a state scheme do realise that you will be paying extra in a state scheme to cover all the unemployed actors/ballet dancers and artists- who currently have their own scheme and pay their own excess unemployment risk .......?????
Sorry your comments are laughable.
You say workers today, have a choice - OK, maybe a choice of union-run schemes.
Ask any worker about Alfakassan and they´ll tell you some stories, like I know firsthand, how the union guys(who are absolutely everywhere) will virtually threaten you to sign up to their schemes.
It´s only right and proper for the government to have full control of the unemployment insurance.
Dismantling the Swedish Model will hurt but it´s so needed!
Firstly the problem with making collective agreements and virtually making union membership compulsory is that it is an attempt to politicise the workforce and is a blatant attempt to indoctrinate the whole population. If you want to have strong unions in this country then they should stop having politcal affiliation with any politcal party, only that we can they be politically unbiased and represent all the workers.
Secondly the whole welfare system is biased towards those who have already had a job and not those who are seeking work, all these unemployed youngsters have nothing, the same goes for many immigrants. This is why they turned their back on Social Democracy because it doesn't offer them any hope. You have to have been in the system to get anything out.
People may argue that we have a classless society and maybe we do. But the previledged in this country are no those working hard, earning lots of money (paying lots of taxes) and living in a villa, but those who managed to get a hyresrätt and live on A-kassa most of their life or have a full pension based on their best ten years (when they only worked ten years).
What on earth are you talking about??? Alfa-Kassa *IS* a state run scheme completely independent of Unions for people wo can't/don't want to join - it's a freestanding organisation - the same as the insurance schemes run for private business - or have you got yourself mixed up on the difference between A-kassa and Alfakassa???
@days-of- yore
Your argument seems really confusing to me
- in paragraph 2 you complain that the benefits system is biased towards those who have worked and paid into the system
- yet in paragraph 3 you rant about people living off benefits who have NOT paid into the system
So what exactly is your point???
So much of what you write is just urban myth
- Living your whole life on A-kassa??? Yet the total maximum number of days for claiming A-kassa is 450 days for those who have made the necessary payments........
- *luxury living in hyresrätt*??? Well perhaps if left central Stockholm for a while you would see that many parts of the country are demolishing hyresrätt because the young people have all left - no work....
I did not say ALFA-KASSAN is run by the unions. Please read what I said carefully. But my point was that because of the extremely high level of unionised workforce and the massive influence that unions have had over last 50+ years; the average worker/new employee is almost compelled to join a union/union fund. I KNOW what I am talking about - I have had these experiences. Some people I know have even been threatened physically by their union boss in the factory if they don´t sign up.
I guess you´re a die-had socialist so I don´t expect you to understand, but anyway....take care and no hard feelings!