3 ms·

And what's the legality of employing migrant workers?

vidarh 13y ago
It is generally legal, and welcomed for seasonal work in particular. Which makes it easy to avoid scrutiny for those who wants to exploit someone, as the visible part of their activity is entirely legal.
- quinnchr 13y ago
  I'll admit I don't know much (anything) about labor laws in Sweden. From what I've read legal migrant workers are afforded access to the welfare state and rights such as collective bargaining. Which is awesome, but what's the enforcement like for companies who hire undocumented workers? From what I've read so far enforcement seems to be aimed at deporting workers and not punishing the companies. Seems like a case for punishing the perpetrators and not the victims.
  - runarb 13y ago
    As I understand it, because of the European Union’s rules about free movement of labor any EU citizen can work everywhere in the EU legally with very little paperwork. Legal migrants are given full access to the welfare state from their first hour of work. Most migrant workers are therefore from Eastern Europe, and can work there legally. I don't know about Sweden, but here in Norway enforcement is pretty strict. Industries that the government considers especially prone to illegal activities, like construction, are inspected regularly. There is also a system of forced tariff (minimum pay, requirement to pay extra for overtime, and other standards), and companies can be hold collective responsible for what their subcontractors does. Employers that don't follow the rules face large fines, confiscations and prison. Every worker has the right to collective bargaining. Illegal immigrants can of course be deported, but because there is no place to incarcerate them until they can be sent home, the government mainly focus on deporting criminals and thus with a known home address, not scooping up illegals where their may work. However we have a new government that may make changes to this now.

It is generally legal, and welcomed for seasonal work in particular. Which makes it easy to avoid scrutiny for those who wants to exploit someone, as the visible part of their activity is entirely legal.

quinnchr 13y ago
I'll admit I don't know much (anything) about labor laws in Sweden. From what I've read legal migrant workers are afforded access to the welfare state and rights such as collective bargaining. Which is awesome, but what's the enforcement like for companies who hire undocumented workers? From what I've read so far enforcement seems to be aimed at deporting workers and not punishing the companies. Seems like a case for punishing the perpetrators and not the victims.
- runarb 13y ago
  As I understand it, because of the European Union’s rules about free movement of labor any EU citizen can work everywhere in the EU legally with very little paperwork. Legal migrants are given full access to the welfare state from their first hour of work. Most migrant workers are therefore from Eastern Europe, and can work there legally. I don't know about Sweden, but here in Norway enforcement is pretty strict. Industries that the government considers especially prone to illegal activities, like construction, are inspected regularly. There is also a system of forced tariff (minimum pay, requirement to pay extra for overtime, and other standards), and companies can be hold collective responsible for what their subcontractors does. Employers that don't follow the rules face large fines, confiscations and prison. Every worker has the right to collective bargaining. Illegal immigrants can of course be deported, but because there is no place to incarcerate them until they can be sent home, the government mainly focus on deporting criminals and thus with a known home address, not scooping up illegals where their may work. However we have a new government that may make changes to this now.