Swedish forestry firms in migrant labour scandal
Published: 23 Jan 13 08:53 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/45768/20130123/
Swedish forestry companies have come under fire over accusations they use migrant workers from Africa to plant trees for low pay, with many ending up broke and stranded in Sweden.
- Sweden's minimum wages 'too high': OECD (17 Dec 12)
- Union fury at McDonald's 'job selling' scheme (5 Dec 12)
- Study: Sweden 'fails' at job market integration (19 Nov 12)
According to a programme to be broadcast on Wednesday night, Swedish forestry giants SCA and Holmen hire agents to recruit migrant workers from Cameroon, luring them to Sweden with false promises of good pay.
The practice has been going on for the past two years and involves sending documents to the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) indicating the workers will earn 18,500 kronor ($2,825) per month and which have been approved by the union.
But the promised wages appear only to exist on paper, according to Uppdrag granskning.
When the Cameroonian workers arrive in the forests of northern Sweden, they are forced to carry out piece work for much lower pay.
They were also forced to pay hefty fees to the agents before being allowed to start working in the first place.
When some of the workers complained, the agent threatened to burn down their homes back in Cameroon, according to the SVT report.
Six months after the end of the planting season, many of the Cameroonian workers remain in Sweden as undocumented immigrants.
They lack housing, money, and work and are afraid to return home because they lack money to pay off the debts incurred to make the journey to Sweden.
The Swedish forestry firms told Uppdrag granskning they were also "duped" by the recruiting agents, but claim they have no obligation to help the workers with their predicament.
"We have a contract agreement with businesslike provisions with the agent. We don't have any agreement which involves any responsibility for their staff," Jan Sandström, regional manager with Holmen AB, told SVT.
TT/The Local/dl
Follow The Local on Twitter
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Swedish addicts could get glass 'free zone'
Politicians in the small Swedish town of Falköping want to give alcoholics and drug users a glass-encased zone in the middle of a central square, saying it would lessen public disturbances and allow "the down and out" to socialize. READ () »
EU probes SAS airline over state aid
The European Commission opened an in-depth probe on Wednesday to see if state aid given to Scandinavian Airlines by Sweden and Denmark conformed to EU rules. READ () »
Jeepers creepers, your shoes hurt my peepers
In The Local's new Fashion Fix column on Swedish trends, Englishwoman Victoria Hussey gets up close and personal with shoes - namely "brothel creepers" from WWII that have been making a steady return to Stockholm pavements. READ () »
Frozen raspberries could spread vomiting bug
Imported frozen raspberries should be boiled before eaten according to new advice from Sweden's National Food Agency, which warns that the berries may carry the novo virus that is more known for causing winter vomiting disease. READ () »
Body of lonely Swedish patient forgotten for days
A deceased patient who had no relatives was left in a room for five days at the Örebro University Hospital before staff realized the body was still there. READ () »
Scab row as students disrupt bus strike
Stockholm bus traffic was at a standstill Wednesday as drivers launched a major strike at midnight, but a group of Conservative youths disrupted the action by replacing a bus route between two of the city's major hospitals. READ () »
Tax bill for politician's ties to far-right site
Sweden Democrat MP Kent Ekeroth has to pay tax for money sent to his bank account as donations to two far-right websites that he claims to have nothing to do with editorially. READ () »
Top ten ways you know you've turned Swedish
For some foreigners living in Sweden, a natural "inner Swede" can develop that often doesn't show its face until you're back home again. The Local's Patrick Reilly lists the top ten ways this inner Swede can change your life. READ () »
- 19/06 Swedish addicts could get glass 'free zone' »
- 19/06 EU probes SAS airline over state aid »
- 19/06 Jeepers creepers, your shoes hurt my peepers »
- 19/06 Frozen raspberries could spread vomiting bug »
- 19/06 Body of lonely Swedish patient forgotten for days »
- 19/06 Scab row as students disrupt bus strike »
- 19/06 Tax bill for politician's ties to far-right site »
- 19/06 Sweden to send 160 troops in Mali mission »
- 19/06 Extreme-right sites beat political party pages »
- 18/06 Transport chaos threatens Midsummer »
- 19/06 Dentist cut off own finger for insurance cash »
- 19/06 Nuclear cuts top Obama's Berlin speech »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
- 19/06 Breakthough in hunt for serial arsonist in Brittany »
- 19/06 France maps out defence for war on mosquitos »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
- 19/06 Norwegian airline to offer free water on long flights »
- 18/06 American tourist dies in Arctic cruise mishap »
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
- 19/06 Murderer jailed for life 15 years after stabbing man »
- 19/06 MPs quash deal with US over tax evasion »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
In cooperation with DoToday
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- Stream Global Services Dublin - Swedish
- Application Manager
- Customer Service Representative - Distrupol
- GE Money Bank söker en senior riskanalytiker
- IT Communication and Support Officer
- Lighting Category Director
- Senior Electrical Engineer
- Senior Manager/Manager with Finance, Risk & Regulatory experience within Banking and Capital Markets
- Solution Architect to Teracom Group
- Staff Engineer
Kentucky’s Bourbon Royalty Visits Sweden »
"He's not a celebrity in Sweden, but everyone in Kentucky knows the name Fred Noe. Even more people know the name of his great-grandfather, Jim Beam." READ »
- 13/6 22:03 This weeks results..week 24/25 (Stripes News)
- 05/6 13:52 The Golden Thread (The Diplomatic Dispatch)
- 29/5 09:11 IKEA UK: Swedish furniture giant stomps gnomes. (Boston Blatte)
- Stream Global Services Dublin - Swedish
- Application Manager
- Customer Service Representative - Distrupol
- GE Money Bank söker en senior riskanalytiker
- IT Communication and Support Officer
- Lighting Category Director
- Senior Electrical Engineer
- Senior Manager/Manager with Finance, Risk & Regulatory experience within Banking and Capital Markets
- Solution Architect to Teracom Group
- Staff Engineer
- 23:59 Campervan in -30?
- 22:35 Romanian beggers everywhere in Stockholm
- 17:02 Exchanging a old car for a new one, taxes?
- 16:29 Gothenburg road tax
- 16:05 A funny pic about Jimmie Åkesson
- 15:03 Swedish rail strike
- 14:30 Planning on moving to Sweden from USA
- 14:25 Is Edward Snowden Victim Of Chinese Honey-Trap?
- 14:00 TMI (Travel Medical Insurance) companies in Sweden
- 13:03 BBC TV property show looking for participants!
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
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
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.
Sweden could get cheap labor legally and happily abuse them without much problem (it did not even have to get lot of refugees and unhappily call them immigrants who suppose to work as cheap labor!)
It's time for Holmen to give Mr Sandström his gold watch I think.
I get the feeling that this is no longer about pay, but about staying in Sweden?