Sweden (SE)

Employment
Wages
Working Time
Leave
Social Insurance
Health and Safety
Trade Union Influence
Minimum Standards
Trade Union Participation

Employment

Sweden's agriculture and horticulture employ 24,000 full-time employees. Out of 19,000 seasonal workers 8,000 are Swedish, 8,000 are migrant workers from EU countries, and 3,000 are from third countries.

table International Comparison of Employment

Wages and Labour Costs

The wage in Swedish agriculture is € 1,300 - 2,300 per month. 2-3 % are deducted from the worker's wage for welfare insurance contributions. Employers have to pay 35 % for the employees. The income tax rate is 35 %.

8 % of the employees are paid the collectively agreed minimum wage (€ 1,300 / Skr 14,600).

All companies are members of the Swedish employers' association. Trade union members are paid the collectively agreed wage, 60 % of the companies are covered by a collective agreement. A company covered by a collective agreements also pays the agreed wage. 90 % of all employees are covered by the collective agreement. The main problems in implementing collective agreements are in horse farms.

table International Comparison of Wages and Labour Costs

Working Time

The working time is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, or 2,014 hours per year. A 50 % bonus is paid for overtime, and 100 % on Sundays and public holidays. A maximum of 200 hours of overtime per year is allowable, or 300 hours under special agreements with the trade union.

table International Comparison of Working Time

Leave and Paid Holidays

25 holidays in 5 weeks have been agreed. Holiday benefit payment: monthly wage x 0.8 % multiplied by the number of days plus an additional payment of 12 % of the monthly wage. If workers are paid by hours there are no paid public holidays. In summer the workers have to be allowed a 3-week holiday in one block.

table International Comparison of Leave and Paid Holidays

Social Insurance

There is a state system for health and pension insurance. For the first 14 days of illness the worker receives 85 %. In the event of illness a worker may stay away from work for 7 days without presenting a doctor's certificate. The first illness day is not paid.

A private work accident insurance covers the costs caused by accidents at work and on the way to and from work.

Occupational Health and Safety

There were 246 fatal accidents in Sweden in 2005, thereof three in agriculture. The percentage of young people, mainly young women, in work accidents is remarkable.

Any person handling toxic materials needs an according qualification certificate.

table International Comparison of Occupational Health and Safety

Trade Union Influence

6,000 agricultural workers are trade union members. The degree of unionisation is 50 %. The reach of the unions is 100 %. A network of regional representatives can contact every trade union member. The local trade union representatives are financed by an additional contribution (1 % of the wage). They provide information and advice for the trade union workers in the regions and in the companies.

For every region there is a safety officer, who is elected by the union. The safety officers are paid by the trade union, and the state refunds the money. This officer has the right to access all companies.

table International Comparison of Trade Union Influence

Minimum Standards

In Sweden there is no statutory minimum wage.

table International Comparison of Minimum Standards

Trade Union Participation

In Sweden there is a comprehensive system of trade union participation. The trade union is represented on the board of the welfare insurance. There are special committees for health and safety at work with trade union representatives.

table International Comparison of Trade Union Participation

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