Working in Sweden – permits and rules

To work in Sweden, you may need a work permit. The Swedish Migration Agency deals with these issues.

Work, the Swedish Migration Agency´s website

Health and safety at work

Posted workers have the right to a safe working environment under the Work Environment Act. All workers must follow workplace instructions on safety and order.

The employer’s responsibility for the work environment

Discrimination

Workers should not be subjected to harassment or bullying. The employer has the primary responsibility to prevent it.

It is forbidden to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of:

• sex
• ethnicity
• religion or other belief
• disability
• sexual orientation
• age
• transgender identity or expression.

What is discrimination, the Equality Ombudsman´s website

Working time and breaks

The Working Hours Act (arbetstidslagen) applies to posted workers and regulates, among other things, working time, breaks and night rest. A Swedish collective agreement may replace the Act in whole or in part.

Working Hours Act (1982: 673), the Riksdag´s website (in Swedish) 

Holiday entitlement

The Law on Annual Leave (semesterlagen) applies to posted workers, but there may be exceptions in the case of short-term assembly or installation operations (for eight days or fewer). The Posting of Workers Act (lag om utstationering av arbetstagare) specifies what applies.

Posting of Workers Act (1999: 678), the Riksdag´s website (in Swedish)

Law on Annual Leave (1977: 480), the Riksdag´s website (in Swedish)

Parental leave and protection in case of pregnancy

Posted workers have the right to parental leave and protective measures in case of pregnancy or breastfeeding. Discrimination in relation to parental leave is prohibited.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Parental leave, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency´s website

Remuneration and collective agreements

Sweden does not have a statutory minimum wage. Wages are often regulated by collective agreements, which can also regulate the reimbursement of travel, board and lodging. Contact employers’ or workers’ organisations for information on wages in your sector:

Swedish labour market model and collective agreements

Construction sector – in case of non-payment of wages

If you are working in construction and do not receive your salary, you can contact the contractor who hired your employer.

Certain time limits apply in order to be able to receive your salary. For more information, see the Act on Entrepreneurial Responsibility for Wage Claims (lag om entreprenörsansvar för lönefordringar).

Act on Entrepreneurial Responsibility for Wage Claims (2018: 1472), the Riksdag´s website (in Swedish)

Tax and social benefits

Whether you have to pay tax in Sweden depends on the length of your stay and the tax agreement with your home country. The Swedish Tax Agency deals with these issues.

New in Sweden and will be employed here, the Swedish Tax Agency´s website

As a posted worker, you are usually insured in your home country. Contact an authority similar to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency in your home country to find out what applies if, for example, you fall ill or need medical treatment or healthcare while working in Sweden.

Form A1 shows in which country you are insured and in which country you or your employer have to pay social security contributions. To get the certificate, contact the counterpart of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency in your home country.

Work in Sweden, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency´s website

Long-term posting

After 12 months, you are entitled to at least the same working conditions as other workers in Sweden. If you take over the work from each other and continue to perform the same service at the same place, the time of several workers should be added together. The employer shall inform a worker, who replaces another worker of the total period of posting, no later than the date on which the worker starts work in Sweden.

The employer may extend the period to 18 months by notifying the Swedish Work Environment Authority.

Help in case of problems with public authorities

If an authority in an EU or EEA country prevents you as a worker from exercising your rights, you can get help through SOLVIT.

SOLVIT helps solve problems in the EU, the National Board of Trade Sweden´s website