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'CV discrimination is idiotic': opposition
The Social Democrats accused the right-of-centre government of pessimism, infighting and wage dumping on Wednesday, as leader Stefan Löfven introduced new proposals to shore up the welfare state and boost jobs.
Published: 20 Feb 2013 10:57 CET
The Social Democrats accused the right-of-centre government of pessimism, infighting and wage dumping on Wednesday, as leader Stefan Löfven introduced new proposals to shore up the welfare state and boost jobs if the party takes power in the 2014 elections.
"The right-of-centre government is putting forward hardly any new proposals to parliament, they're instead embroiled in attacking each other," Löfven said about the four political parties that form the Alliance government.
He further said that the infighting and lack of concrete policy-making was damaging to Sweden by fostering despondency about the country's ability to compete on the global market.
He also said it paved the way for the anti-immigration Sweden Democrat party to entice new members and to grow its voter base.
"The coalition parties don't seem to be able to, want to, or even have the energy to take on today's challenges," he said.
"As far as the government is concerned, it's always someone else's fault. If it's not the EU, it's the fault of immigrants."
Speaking to The Local, Löfven said Sweden had to get better at benefiting from foreign-born job seekers' education and experience.
"We've seen in several surveys that if you have a foreign-sounding name, Swedish employers might not even invite you to an interview," he said.
"It is idiotic that Sweden doesn't use the resources at its disposal."
He further said that while Euro scepticism had also reached Sweden due to the financial crisis, any talk of a Swexit, in the mould of a union membership referendum proposed in the UK, would ultimately be damaging to Sweden.
"We need to make people feel that not only is the EU important but we can change how it works," he told The Local.
"We need a competitive continent, which will benefit Sweden and Swedish jobs."
Löfven spent a large part of Wednesday's press conference reiterating that the welfare state and employment were part and parcel of the same goal, to keep the Swedish standard of living among the world's highest.
He accused the government of structural wage dumping by wanting to introduce one-year high school programmes and have certain courses that do not give students the opportunity to go on to further education. Such measures would ultimately dump wages across the board, he warned.
The traditionally labour party said its proposals would also benefit the middle class in Sweden.
"For the middle class, a decision to study further should benefit your career, we want mobility on the labour market," he told The Local.
Ann Törnkvist
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"The right-of-centre government is putting forward hardly any new proposals to parliament, they're instead embroiled in attacking each other," Löfven said about the four political parties that form the Alliance government.
He further said that the infighting and lack of concrete policy-making was damaging to Sweden by fostering despondency about the country's ability to compete on the global market.
He also said it paved the way for the anti-immigration Sweden Democrat party to entice new members and to grow its voter base.
"The coalition parties don't seem to be able to, want to, or even have the energy to take on today's challenges," he said.
"As far as the government is concerned, it's always someone else's fault. If it's not the EU, it's the fault of immigrants."
Speaking to The Local, Löfven said Sweden had to get better at benefiting from foreign-born job seekers' education and experience.
"We've seen in several surveys that if you have a foreign-sounding name, Swedish employers might not even invite you to an interview," he said.
"It is idiotic that Sweden doesn't use the resources at its disposal."
He further said that while Euro scepticism had also reached Sweden due to the financial crisis, any talk of a Swexit, in the mould of a union membership referendum proposed in the UK, would ultimately be damaging to Sweden.
"We need to make people feel that not only is the EU important but we can change how it works," he told The Local.
"We need a competitive continent, which will benefit Sweden and Swedish jobs."
Löfven spent a large part of Wednesday's press conference reiterating that the welfare state and employment were part and parcel of the same goal, to keep the Swedish standard of living among the world's highest.
He accused the government of structural wage dumping by wanting to introduce one-year high school programmes and have certain courses that do not give students the opportunity to go on to further education. Such measures would ultimately dump wages across the board, he warned.
The traditionally labour party said its proposals would also benefit the middle class in Sweden.
"For the middle class, a decision to study further should benefit your career, we want mobility on the labour market," he told The Local.
Ann Törnkvist
Follow Ann on Twitter here
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"We've seen in several surveys that if you have a foreign-sounding name, Swedish employers might not even invite you to an interview," he said.
Does this mean, someone at last is ready tackle this issue or do I need to add 'SON' to the end of my surname?
Your best bet of having someone to tackle the issue is voting him (if you can ofc).
Anyway, I know my post will get blasted by supporters of the right-wing, but I have to say I'm glad to see L?n finally connecting with reality and mentioned an issue as specific as foreign-sounding names in CV. I know I won't vote for the right-wing parties or SD in the next election, but I wasn't sure if any leftist parties deserved my votes. Now I know whom I should vote for, L?n for prime minister!
It is already against the law for an employer to discriminate against an employee, or potential employee, on account of their race or religion.
The problem is that it's notoriously difficult to prove discrimination during a recruitment process. Unless the employer actually confesses to preferring a Swede over non-Swede for no other grounds than race, it's all but impossible.
Mr L?n is entitled to rant and rave about how unfair and silly it all is, but what is he going to do? Mandatory positive discrimination? Quotas? Let's hear it Mr L?n. Without a offering us a concrete idea, it's all just more hot air. Which is ironic considering that's exactly what he criticises the Moderate party for offering us.
I am assuming he is suggesting DO will finally be compelled to implement the numerous EU directives rather than simply paying lip service. At least he his raising the issue rather than ignoring it, I might even be tempted to renew my membership if he carries on this way????
So you'd rather vote for a government that purposely ignores the widespread social problems over people who acknowledge them and even submit proposals for correction? Wonder why SD got so many votes lately? Because the incompetent right-wing government can't do its damn job and they keep living in denial! The biggest problem with SD is whatever immigrant-related topic they bring up becomes taboo. Luckily, L?n got the CV name first this time. When the leftist government ran the country, they kept SD out of picture for decades. With Reinfeldt in power for only one term, SD made their way into the parliament. If that is the best Reinfeldt, can do, Sweden can do a LOT better without him or any of his lackeys!