Sweden in Focus

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.__Applicants for work permits in Sweden will soon have to earn 90 percent of the median wage, or just over 33,000 kronor a month, to qualify.But some key professions will be exempted from the requirement. No decision has yet been made on exactly which jobs will be exempted, but The Local recently obtained lists of the professions provided to the government by the Migration Agency for consideration.The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, a lobby group representing Swedish businesses, has long sought to maintain Sweden's liberal work permit rules.In this week’s episode, The Local's Richard Orange catches up with Amelie Berg, the organisation's expert on immigration and labour mobility issues, to get her take on the latest updates. READ ALSO:Swedish businesses call for work permit exemption list 'as soon as possible'

This week we ask whether the new deal between Ulf Kristersson and Jimmie Åkesson is a capitulation or a masterstroke by the prime minister. And what a Sweden Democrat migration minister might mean.We look at what it's really like inside one of Sweden’s deportation centres – and why being articulate might lead to you getting forced onto a deportation flight earlier than you’d like.And we examine how high-skilled workers are reacting to the newest migration laws.In exclusive material for Membership+ subscribers we discuss whether the Swedish culture of shielding kids from competition is progressive or constraining.Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and Richard Orange.__Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A sessions on working in SwedenApril 16th sessionMay 12th sessionJune 16th session__Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsSweden Democrats to be in charge of immigration in a future right-wing governmentDetained in SwedenTwo hours inside Sweden's controversial detention hub for to-be-deported migrantsSwedish police asked to speed up deportation of 'intelligent and articulate' software engineerImmigrationA ban on being Swedish? Minister rails against France's new snus banSwedish traditions'We can go elsewhere': Skilled workers question future in Sweden over citizenship reformsGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ 

This week we ask whether the new deal between Ulf Kristersson and Jimmie Åkesson is a capitulation or a masterstroke by the prime minister. And what a Sweden Democrat migration minister might mean.We look at what it's really like inside one of Sweden’s deportation centres – and why being articulate might lead to you getting forced onto a deportation flight earlier than you’d like.And we examine how high-skilled workers are reacting to the newest migration laws.In exclusive material for Membership+ subscribers we discuss whether the Swedish culture of shielding kids from competition is progressive or constraining.Host James Savage is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.__Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A sessions on working in SwedenApril 16th sessionMay 12th sessionJune 16th session__Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsSweden Democrats to be in charge of immigration in a future right-wing governmentDetained in SwedenTwo hours inside Sweden's controversial detention hub for to-be-deported migrantsSwedish police asked to speed up deportation of 'intelligent and articulate' software engineerImmigrationA ban on being Swedish? Minister rails against France's new snus banSwedish traditions'We can go elsewhere': Skilled workers question future in Sweden over citizenship reforms

Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A sessions on working in SwedenApril 16th sessionMay 12th sessionJune 16th sessionGet Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __How are constant changes to Sweden’s immigration rules, most recently the citizenship rules, affecting tech workers? What does Sweden need to do to stay attractive to international talent?And how is the AI shift affecting workers at Spotify?In this week’s episode, The Local Sweden’s editor Emma Löfgren speaks with Péter Tóth, who is a data engineer and chairperson of Spotify Workers Unionen.READ ALSO:Swedish union leaders warn 'haphazard' citizenship reforms could harm international reputation

How are constant changes to Sweden’s immigration rules, most recently the citizenship rules, affecting tech workers? What does Sweden need to do to stay attractive to international talent?And how is the AI shift affecting workers at Spotify?In this week’s episode, The Local Sweden’s editor Emma Löfgren speaks with Péter Tóth, who is a data engineer and chairperson of Spotify Workers Unionen.READ ALSO:Swedish union leaders warn 'haphazard' citizenship reforms could harm international reputation

Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A sessions on working in SwedenApril 16th sessionMay 12th sessionJune 16th session__Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __This week we ask whether the campaign for transitional rules for citizenship applicants has a chance. And is Sweden really guilty of democratic backsliding, as a new report claims?Also, why is snus is causing ructions between Sweden and France? And anyone who has experienced the past few days will know, April in Sweden is notorious for its unreliable weather. So – for Membership+ subscribers – we put our panelists through their paces with a quiz about Swedish weather folklore.Host James Savage is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:CitizenshipSwedish union leaders warn 'haphazard' citizenship reforms could harm international reputationHow can you show proof of Swedish and civics knowledge for citizenship?PoliticsFive ways in which Sweden's government is eroding the rule of lawSwedish traditionsA ban on being Swedish? Minister rails against France's new snus ban

This week we ask whether the campaign for transitional rules for citizenship applicants has a chance. And is Sweden really guilty of democratic backsliding, as a new report claims?Also, why is snus is causing ructions between Sweden and France? And anyone who has experienced the past few days will know, April in Sweden is notorious for its unreliable weather. So – for Membership+ subscribers – we put our panelists through their paces with a quiz about Swedish weather folklore.Host James Savage is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:CitizenshipSwedish union leaders warn 'haphazard' citizenship reforms could harm international reputationHow can you show proof of Swedish and civics knowledge for citizenship?PoliticsFive ways in which Sweden's government is eroding the rule of lawSwedish traditionsA ban on being Swedish? Minister rails against France's new snus banRubbish weatherSwedish word of the day: bakslag

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __How are tougher immigration laws affecting Swedish companies and their ability to recruit the people they need to be able to compete internationally in a fast-changing labour market? How important are immigration rules in attracting foreign workers? And what do Swedish trade unions think about the lack of transitional rules in new citizenship legislation? In this week’s episode, The Local Sweden’s editor Emma Löfgren speaks with Therese Svanström, chairperson of TCO, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees.READ ALSO:Is Swedish media opinion on migration crackdown finally shifting?