**In schools, hospitals and nursing homes, employees complain of worsening working conditions. Meanwhile new budget cuts are being announced by local and regional authorities, whose deficits are exploding.**
The municipal employees’ union, which had called a strike for April 18, eventually withdrew it, 24 hours before it was due to start. As for nurses, they kept up the pressure for a few more days, threatening to stop work if their demands – including clarification of their working hours, among other issues – were not met. In the midst of renegotiation of collective agreements in Sweden’s public sector, this movement bears witness to a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction among “welfare state workers.” They are on the front line when it comes to austerity measures being implemented by the kingdom’s 290 municipalities and 21 regions, whose finances are in the red.
A pediatric nurse since 1998 and a representative of the Kommunal union, Malin Tillgren found it hard to pinpoint when the situation began to deteriorate. “It has become progressively worse,” she said. Tasks, especially administrative ones, have increased. The pace of work has quickened. “Today, it’s not unusual to start the day at 7:15 am with a list of patients you know you won’t have time to look after.”
Some of her colleagues refrain from drinking water during the day, to avoid going to the toilet. Breaks are regularly skipped, as are days off. “The worst thing is never knowing when you’ll be called in to work.” This is because there’s a staff shortage in public hospitals and care centers. The booming private sector offers better conditions. In addition, at least 14,000 nurses (out of 114,000 still working) have changed profession.
Across Sweden, the feeling is the same: Despite being a priority for voters, healthcare is no longer being allocated the resources it needs. And it’s not going to get any better. According to SKR, the association of Swedish local authorities, the municipal deficit is set to reach 7 billion kronor (€600 million) by 2024, and 24 billion kronor for the regions. In early April, the liberal-conservative government, backed by the far right, announced a 6.5 billion kronor boost to health spending.
**“You cannot simultaneously have free immigration and a welfare state.** … I am in favor of the unilateral reduction of tariffs, but the movement of goods is a substitute for the movement of people. As long as you have a welfare state, I do not believe you can have a unilateral open immigration. I would like to see a world in which you could have open immigration, but stop kidding yourselves. On the other hand, the welfare state does not prevent unilateral free trade. I believe that they are in different categories.”
― Milton Friedman
NumerousKangaroo8286 on
You cannot purchase a flat if you aren’t double income if you are like an average earner. Social housing is stressed beyond the limit, I do not think it’s going to get better unfortunately, at least in cities like Stockholm, can’t say for others.
Jazzlike_Comfort6877 on
Too late
InstructionAny7317 on
Good luck to all voters who voted for it. You get what you voted for.
Drahy on
Sweden has become the Mexico of Scandinavia, providing crime waves and cheap labour to Denmark and Norway.
weirdowerdo on
Thank god that the government is doing something about this. Not. Their “boost” in healthcare spending didn’t save a single worker in healthcare at the same time, it’s a one time boost so it does fuck all in the long term. At the same time they’re planning on bringing back the ability to un-insure cancer patients from Health insurance benefits and force them to work. They chose to subsidise Airlines with double the amount of what the increased spending on education. They cut spending on National Council for Crime Prevention. They cut spending on psychiatry too.
They’re planning on ruining the entire housing market too by trying to essentially reform away any and all rental housing in the country. Make it easier to take loans to make housing prices skyrocket again. Essentially make getting housing practically impossible and they’ve also crashed the construction industry that will not recover for decades to come…
They’re not fixing the education system that still allows for for-profit schools. Our taxes are just sent to their buddies. The Prime Minister literally owns a mansion together with one of the largest lobbyist for the For-profit education system.
To the foreigners on here who will just sit and blame immigration… Surprise surprise the issue isnt immigration. It’s incredibly systemic, what we need is financial reform, welfare reform, housing market reforms and labour market reforms. Immediate migration is not any issue any longer. We’re the strictest in the nordics now.
PowerPanda555 on
Nothing special about Sweden, they are just a few years ahead of the rest of us.
morbihann on
I am sure one more video course on integration will help the immigrant societies integrate.
10inf on
They mention debt and yes regions and municipalities are adding on to their debt but maastricht debt to gdp is still only 30% which includes debt from regions and municipalities. Government debt is shrinking and is 16%.
IncidentBeneficial28 on
Definitely has nothing to do with the tens of thousands being let in for handouts with no expectations of productivity or contributions to the systems, culture and society.
saltyswedishmeatball on
Sweden’s disaster
If the housing bubbles across the world pop along with the Ukrainian war that’s caused issues then Taiwan War likely next year according to US/Chinese officials.. yes, last leg is far from an exageration.
I dont think people understand that we’re not living in a time where everything is fine by there’s crazy people trying to make is buy into their hysteria. There are many reasons to be very concerned. It doesn’t mean dont live a happy life and have a positive outlook on the future but it does mean we need to face reality before it slaps us in the face. imagining reality bitch slapping me “believe me now, bitch? you’re a bitch arent you, yes you are, you’re my bitch”
FridayOfTheDead on
Someone’s going to Charlie Hebdo an IKEA and Sweden would still give them free housing.
ClassroomLow1008 on
American here curious to learn:
1. Which EU nation has the strongest social-safety net of late?
2. How do the other Scandinavian nations compare to Sweden with regards to social welfare?
Affectionate_Mix5081 on
As a swede, one part of me is sad to see this happen.. But another part kind of takes joy in it.
We have made our bed, and after being berated, called a nazi, racist, and everything in-between for YEARS of my life by people, it feels good to say “I told you so, comfortable bed wouldn’t you say?”
Yes, IATA here, but still feels nice, especially when they try to defend themselves and their choices which led to this.
16 Comments
**In schools, hospitals and nursing homes, employees complain of worsening working conditions. Meanwhile new budget cuts are being announced by local and regional authorities, whose deficits are exploding.**
The municipal employees’ union, which had called a strike for April 18, eventually withdrew it, 24 hours before it was due to start. As for nurses, they kept up the pressure for a few more days, threatening to stop work if their demands – including clarification of their working hours, among other issues – were not met. In the midst of renegotiation of collective agreements in Sweden’s public sector, this movement bears witness to a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction among “welfare state workers.” They are on the front line when it comes to austerity measures being implemented by the kingdom’s 290 municipalities and 21 regions, whose finances are in the red.
A pediatric nurse since 1998 and a representative of the Kommunal union, Malin Tillgren found it hard to pinpoint when the situation began to deteriorate. “It has become progressively worse,” she said. Tasks, especially administrative ones, have increased. The pace of work has quickened. “Today, it’s not unusual to start the day at 7:15 am with a list of patients you know you won’t have time to look after.”
Some of her colleagues refrain from drinking water during the day, to avoid going to the toilet. Breaks are regularly skipped, as are days off. “The worst thing is never knowing when you’ll be called in to work.” This is because there’s a staff shortage in public hospitals and care centers. The booming private sector offers better conditions. In addition, at least 14,000 nurses (out of 114,000 still working) have changed profession.
Across Sweden, the feeling is the same: Despite being a priority for voters, healthcare is no longer being allocated the resources it needs. And it’s not going to get any better. According to SKR, the association of Swedish local authorities, the municipal deficit is set to reach 7 billion kronor (€600 million) by 2024, and 24 billion kronor for the regions. In early April, the liberal-conservative government, backed by the far right, announced a 6.5 billion kronor boost to health spending.
**Read the full article here:** [**https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/05/06/sweden-s-social-model-is-on-its-last-legs_6670546_19.html**](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/05/06/sweden-s-social-model-is-on-its-last-legs_6670546_19.html)
RIP
**“You cannot simultaneously have free immigration and a welfare state.** … I am in favor of the unilateral reduction of tariffs, but the movement of goods is a substitute for the movement of people. As long as you have a welfare state, I do not believe you can have a unilateral open immigration. I would like to see a world in which you could have open immigration, but stop kidding yourselves. On the other hand, the welfare state does not prevent unilateral free trade. I believe that they are in different categories.”
― Milton Friedman
You cannot purchase a flat if you aren’t double income if you are like an average earner. Social housing is stressed beyond the limit, I do not think it’s going to get better unfortunately, at least in cities like Stockholm, can’t say for others.
Too late
Good luck to all voters who voted for it. You get what you voted for.
Sweden has become the Mexico of Scandinavia, providing crime waves and cheap labour to Denmark and Norway.
Thank god that the government is doing something about this. Not. Their “boost” in healthcare spending didn’t save a single worker in healthcare at the same time, it’s a one time boost so it does fuck all in the long term. At the same time they’re planning on bringing back the ability to un-insure cancer patients from Health insurance benefits and force them to work. They chose to subsidise Airlines with double the amount of what the increased spending on education. They cut spending on National Council for Crime Prevention. They cut spending on psychiatry too.
They’re planning on ruining the entire housing market too by trying to essentially reform away any and all rental housing in the country. Make it easier to take loans to make housing prices skyrocket again. Essentially make getting housing practically impossible and they’ve also crashed the construction industry that will not recover for decades to come…
They’re not fixing the education system that still allows for for-profit schools. Our taxes are just sent to their buddies. The Prime Minister literally owns a mansion together with one of the largest lobbyist for the For-profit education system.
To the foreigners on here who will just sit and blame immigration… Surprise surprise the issue isnt immigration. It’s incredibly systemic, what we need is financial reform, welfare reform, housing market reforms and labour market reforms. Immediate migration is not any issue any longer. We’re the strictest in the nordics now.
Nothing special about Sweden, they are just a few years ahead of the rest of us.
I am sure one more video course on integration will help the immigrant societies integrate.
They mention debt and yes regions and municipalities are adding on to their debt but maastricht debt to gdp is still only 30% which includes debt from regions and municipalities. Government debt is shrinking and is 16%.
Definitely has nothing to do with the tens of thousands being let in for handouts with no expectations of productivity or contributions to the systems, culture and society.
Sweden’s disaster
If the housing bubbles across the world pop along with the Ukrainian war that’s caused issues then Taiwan War likely next year according to US/Chinese officials.. yes, last leg is far from an exageration.
I dont think people understand that we’re not living in a time where everything is fine by there’s crazy people trying to make is buy into their hysteria. There are many reasons to be very concerned. It doesn’t mean dont live a happy life and have a positive outlook on the future but it does mean we need to face reality before it slaps us in the face. imagining reality bitch slapping me “believe me now, bitch? you’re a bitch arent you, yes you are, you’re my bitch”
Someone’s going to Charlie Hebdo an IKEA and Sweden would still give them free housing.
American here curious to learn:
1. Which EU nation has the strongest social-safety net of late?
2. How do the other Scandinavian nations compare to Sweden with regards to social welfare?
As a swede, one part of me is sad to see this happen.. But another part kind of takes joy in it.
We have made our bed, and after being berated, called a nazi, racist, and everything in-between for YEARS of my life by people, it feels good to say “I told you so, comfortable bed wouldn’t you say?”
Yes, IATA here, but still feels nice, especially when they try to defend themselves and their choices which led to this.