Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Monday
The latest news on today's train strike, new unemployment benefits stats, and the Swedish Migration Agency's new international recruitment units explained. Here's some of the news in Sweden.
Train strike called off after overnight negotiations
Hundreds of train drivers would have walked out at 3pm on Monday if the union and rail companies had failed to reach an agreement.
But shortly after 10am they announced that the conflict had been resolved.
The strike threat was launched earlier this month by the Seko union in protest at the rail companies’ refusal to enter talks over more predictable timetables and shift schedules for drivers.
Swedish vocabulary: a train – ett tåg
How many get unemployment benefits in Sweden?
Only four out of ten people registered as unemployed in Sweden last year received unemployment benefits, according to a report by Akademikernas a-kassa, one of the main unemployment benefits funds. Among 18-24-year-olds, the corresponding share is 13 percent.
A common reason is that the conditions to receive the benefits are not met, such as having worked for at least 60 hours per month over at least six months in the past year.
Swedish vocabulary: unemployment benefits – arbetslöshetsersättning
Sizzling weekend brings summer to Sweden
Summer has arrived in more than half of Sweden thanks to a few days of warm weather, according to meteorological institute SMHI’s live map of the seasons. This includes almost all of southern Sweden, as well as eastern areas of northern region Norrland.
Sweden uses the meteorological definition of the seasons, which states that summer is officially here when the daily average temperature stays above 10C for five consecutive days.
Swedish vocabulary: a summer – en sommar
Loreen makes history as Sweden claims seventh Eurovision victory
Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest early on Sunday, as singer Loreen beat out 25 competitors in the finale of the world's biggest live music event, hosted by Britain on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.
A previous victor in 2012, Loreen is the first woman to win the eccentric, much-loved competition twice and only the second person to do so after Johnny Logan for Ireland in the 1980s.
It is a record-equalling seventh Eurovision crown for Sweden, and means the Scandinavian nation will host next year's contest on the 50th anniversary of Abba’s win – the country's first – with breakthrough hit Waterloo.
Swedish vocabulary: a victory – en seger
Swedish Migration Agency to launch new international recruitment units
Sweden's Migration Agency is to scrap the fast-track certified system and instead launch new international recruitment units which will aim to handle complete work permits for highly skilled employees within 30 days.
As first reported in The Local earlier this month, outgoing Director General Mikael Ribbenvik plans to initiate a complete overhaul of how the work permit system works inside the agency as his final act before leaving at the end of this month.
"It should be easy to apply for a work permit," Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said at a press conference held with Ribbenvik to announce the new system. " We want Sweden to be competitive. It must therefore be simple to apply for a work permit and getting a decision should be quick."
Swedish vocabulary: a work permit – ett arbetstillstånd
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Train strike called off after overnight negotiations
Hundreds of train drivers would have walked out at 3pm on Monday if the union and rail companies had failed to reach an agreement.
But shortly after 10am they announced that the conflict had been resolved.
The strike threat was launched earlier this month by the Seko union in protest at the rail companies’ refusal to enter talks over more predictable timetables and shift schedules for drivers.
Swedish vocabulary: a train – ett tåg
How many get unemployment benefits in Sweden?
Only four out of ten people registered as unemployed in Sweden last year received unemployment benefits, according to a report by Akademikernas a-kassa, one of the main unemployment benefits funds. Among 18-24-year-olds, the corresponding share is 13 percent.
A common reason is that the conditions to receive the benefits are not met, such as having worked for at least 60 hours per month over at least six months in the past year.
Swedish vocabulary: unemployment benefits – arbetslöshetsersättning
Sizzling weekend brings summer to Sweden
Summer has arrived in more than half of Sweden thanks to a few days of warm weather, according to meteorological institute SMHI’s live map of the seasons. This includes almost all of southern Sweden, as well as eastern areas of northern region Norrland.
Sweden uses the meteorological definition of the seasons, which states that summer is officially here when the daily average temperature stays above 10C for five consecutive days.
Swedish vocabulary: a summer – en sommar
Loreen makes history as Sweden claims seventh Eurovision victory
Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest early on Sunday, as singer Loreen beat out 25 competitors in the finale of the world's biggest live music event, hosted by Britain on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.
A previous victor in 2012, Loreen is the first woman to win the eccentric, much-loved competition twice and only the second person to do so after Johnny Logan for Ireland in the 1980s.
It is a record-equalling seventh Eurovision crown for Sweden, and means the Scandinavian nation will host next year's contest on the 50th anniversary of Abba’s win – the country's first – with breakthrough hit Waterloo.
Swedish vocabulary: a victory – en seger
Swedish Migration Agency to launch new international recruitment units
Sweden's Migration Agency is to scrap the fast-track certified system and instead launch new international recruitment units which will aim to handle complete work permits for highly skilled employees within 30 days.
As first reported in The Local earlier this month, outgoing Director General Mikael Ribbenvik plans to initiate a complete overhaul of how the work permit system works inside the agency as his final act before leaving at the end of this month.
"It should be easy to apply for a work permit," Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said at a press conference held with Ribbenvik to announce the new system. " We want Sweden to be competitive. It must therefore be simple to apply for a work permit and getting a decision should be quick."
Swedish vocabulary: a work permit – ett arbetstillstånd
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