Sweden has decided to put in place an open, flexible and effective system for labour immigration based on the employers’ need for competence. This policy would enter into force by the end of the current year.
India is the number one country of origin of labour migrants in Sweden and in 2007 nearly 1,500 Indian citizens were granted work permit in that country.
The rules for visiting students who wish to stay on and work in Sweden at the completion of their studies will be simplified. Visiting students who have completed one semester or one term of research education at any institute of higher education would be eligible to apply for work and residence permit. Since last 10 years about 500 Indian students migrate every year to Sweden for education.
Announcing the details of the proposed new immigration policy, the minister for migration and asylum policy of Sweden, Tobias Billstrom on Tuesday at an interactive session hosted by the apex industry body, FICCI said Swedish companies were facing problems of recruiting employees with right skills.
“The reality is that some skills cannot be found in Sweden even though there is still unemployment. Doctors, nurses, engineers, electricians, IT-technicians and welders are examples of professionals where there are currently shortages in Sweden. The recruitment difficulties prevents employers from expanding and ultimately from creating more jobs,” he said.
Once the proposed policy is put in place Swedish companies which were not able to meet labour needs through recruitment in Sweden or in the European Union would be able to recruit labour from any other country. Despite the turmoil in global financial market and potentially rising unemployment, Sweden faces labour shortage with a sizeable population getting older and leaving working life.
Sweden was a labour immigration country till the beginning of 1970s and thereafter the immigration policy marked a change as the flow was dominated by asylum seekers.
Outlining the new proposed immigration policy, Billstrom said that the processing of cases would be based on employers’ assessment of needs.
“In stark contrast to immigration regulations in many other countries, Swedish policy is not based on quotas or aimed exclusively at highly qualified labour. On the contrary, one of the main features of the reform is that it focuses on the employers’ demand for labour, high as well as low skilled workers. In doing so, Sweden is setting an example which hopefully others will follow,” he said.
With a view to ensure sound competition for jobs and to avoid social dumping the Swedish Migration Board will examine whether the terms offered ? salary, insurance protection and other terms of employment ? are in accordance with the conditions applying to employees already resident in that country.
A foreigner having work and residence permit will have the right to family reunification, salary structure and insurance as enjoyed by Swedish nationals. The spouse or partner of the migrant labour will be granted full access to the labour market. The work permit will be granted for a duration of the employment or for a maximum of two years.
The work permit for the migrant in employment can be extended for several times. After a stay for four years permanent residence permit can be granted.