not strictly scientific, but more of an informal
exercise where the researchers valued the response to six questions put
to employers and trade unions in the 27 EU member states. (Read about
the report here).
“One reason the trade unions and employers were so aware of the
issue is that a new law against discrimination was introduced on
1 January 2009. Those we questioned had received a lot of
information about the need to combat discrimination,” says professor
Birger Simonson at the University of Gothenburg’s Department
of Work Science.
He wrote the country report about Sweden for FRA. The awareness of
discrimination issues has long traditions.
“In the labour movement the question of gender biased wages was
raised already in the 60s.”
Sweden also has one of the EU’s least restrictive policies towards
refugees. An example of its relatively open immigration policy is that
Sweden in recent years has accepted more refugees from Iraq than any
other European country. Twelve percent of the Swedish population is
born in a foreign country. The immigrants are overrepresented in
occupations such as cleaners (31 percent), textile industry workers (28
percent) as well as butchers and bakers (24 percent). They are
underrepresented in areas like the police force (1 percent) and the
military (2 percent).
Trade union density is still very high in most sectors in Sweden
with an average of more than 70 percent. In 2007 changes in the
unemployment insurance made the density drop by 4.4 percentage points,
however.
“Union representatives we talked to were fairly senior in the
organisation and worked full time in the union, which might influence
how much they knew about integration issues,” says Birger Simonson.
The City of Gothenburg is mentioned in his report as an example of
what is being done in Sweden to combat ethnic discrimination. It has
implemented a new tool in the employment processes. In order not to
emphasise certain education or training aspects, the HRM department
asks itself for what purpose the new employee is needed. If knowledge
of Swedish language is not needed in the job, it should not be
considered when employing individuals. Some 4 to 5,000 employees also
receive regular training on racial discrimination annually.
