This spring, healthcare workers across different parts of the country went on strike in the hope of getting Sweden’s municipalities and regions (SKR) to agree to shorter working hours. Among the nursing association’s members, 30 percent are currently unable to work full-time, and among the group of midwives, the figure is 50 percent.
At the same time, the Social Democrats have investigated a proposal about shortened working hours, something that attracted some attention and protests from, for example, Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M), who previously told GP that this type of reform would be far too costly.
It is Riksdag member Annika Strandhäll (S), former climate minister and social security minister, who has led the work. And on Friday it was time to present the proposal in a crowded press room at the party’s headquarters at Sveavägen 68 in Stockholm.
Annika Strandhäll summarized the situation on the Swedish labor market during the press conference and underlined that there is high unemployment and that people in working professions burn out. – All parties, including our party, need to be very self-critical of this development, she said, among other things. Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT
Wants to go to the polls on a state investigation
But the care worker who was hoping for a statutory reduction in working hours in the foreseeable future will have to wait a while longer. Strandhäll wants her party to first go to the polls to investigate the whole thing properly.
– It would be the world’s largest research project in the field. We want to see that 5,000 employees in welfare will be able to try working 35-hour weeks for a year, to see the health benefits over time and also to be able to ascertain that it will not be very much more costly, she says.
What do you think about the voter potential in going to the polls on a research project?
– My thought is that there have been very wrong images about what shortening working hours could mean in the Swedish debate, which has meant that the issue has been dead for 20 years. There are crazy horror numbers about what this would cost and so on. But if we carry out this research project, we will see in black and white what this means, says Strandhäll.
During the press conference, Strandhäll said that they had gone through large amounts of research that had been done in the area and talked to experts and knowledgeable people. There have also been several studies on this in Sweden already.
Why is the research that already exists not enough?
– For our part, we absolutely think that would be enough. But in order to instill this security, it is good to be able to rely on our own large study that was carried out in Sweden.
To get the Center Party with you?
– Yes, and the other political parties and business. We think it’s a smart way to get more people on board.
The Center Party has previously not spoken out sharply either for or against a statutory shortening of working hours. But both the Green Party and the Left Party want to go further, V wants to see a 30-hour week.
Riksdag member Ciczie Weidby (V) is the spokesperson for labor market policy in her party and is positive about the S group’s proposal.
– It is clear that if this were to become a sharp bill after the next election that we will stand behind it, she says.
V and the care association: Too slow
Her party also wants to see an investigation before they start reducing working hours, but she thinks the Social Democrats are a bit stubborn.
– It is a bit of a slow march to reduce to a 35-hour week in 2035. It must be remembered that many people already work perhaps 36 hours in healthcare today. And then it won’t be a very big gap to cut another hour, it could have been done faster, says Weidby.
Sineva Ribeiro is chairperson of the Health Care Association and welcomes the S group’s proposal. She thinks, just like V, that it is a rather long time horizon and also emphasizes that many of her members already have shortened working hours.
– We have female members who have already paid for their shorter working hours with worse working conditions. So we would like to see a special adjustment for these groups in that case, so that they can also reduce the working week by five hours, so that it does not become unfair, says Ribeiro.
Sineva Ribeiro, chairperson of the Healthcare Association, in April outside Karolinska Hospital (KS) in Huddinge during the healthcare association’s conflict with SKR. Photo: Caisa Rasmussen/TT
Before any of this can become a reality, the Social Democrats must adopt the working group’s proposal and make it their policy – and try to win the 2026 election.
Annika Strandhäll now hopes that the party will look favorably on her proposal.
– I hope that the longing that exists in society for this change, even among civil servants, that the power of the issue will also influence our internal discussions in the party.
Do you think that there are other party members who are a bit square?
– I think that many times you sit in your own home context. And it is clear that then this can feel completely impossible, says Strandhäll.
And continues:
– And that is why I hope that we collectively lift our necks and also dare to believe that the really big reforms can be implemented.
GP has asked Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) for a comment announcing that she has not changed her position on the matter.
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