The Hindu Business Line : Sweden easing immigration rules to allow more workers

Despite the fear of growing unemployment following the current economic slowdown some European countries are relaxing immigration rules for labourers. According to European Commission, in 2007 there were three million unfilled jobs in the continent.

Sweden, facing a severe shortage of labourers, proposes to ease the immigration law from December 15, allowing more flexibility to recruit from outside Europe.

According to Mr Tobias Billstrom, Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, Sweden, the new law allows longer stay on temporary work permit, removes ‘test system’ and expedites visa processing.

Mr Billstrom, who was in India last week, said Sweden looks for human resource – both skilled and unskilled – from India. “We need IT technicians, welders, nurses and also doctor and engineers,” the Minister told Business Line.

Sweden had granted work permits to 1,500 Indians last year and is now looking for more immigration from the country.

“We will create a demand-driven system. We will leave it to the markets to decide how many people and what sort of skills that they need,” Mr Billstrom said. “Earlier we used to run a sort of test system to control the competencies already existing in Sweden. But it will not be so any more. From now, it will be the employers who will decide what sort of competencies and skills they need,” he said.

“You have to show to the authorities that you meet the requirements when it comes to salary and social insurance. If you can do that, you can bring as many people you want. The system is self-regulatory,” said the Swedish Minister. About job-specific regulations, he said, “We will not differentiate between high and low skilled workers. We will leave it completely to the labour market.”

According to the proposed new rule, time limits for work permits will be extended. A temporary permit can be granted for the duration of the employment or for a maximum of two years, with possibility of extension. The total permit period may amount to no more than four years. After four years, a permanent residence permit can be granted. The examination of an application for an extension of a work permit would take place in Sweden and the applicant will not need to return home to apply for an extension.

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