A new Swedish bill targets immigrants making less than 80% of CAD$3,345, the median income, who will not be able to obtain or renew work permits. The “Increased Maintenance Requirement for Labour Immigrants” bill was first passed in 2022, after several years of Sweden having a relaxed policy compared to its EU counterparts. The bill, which doubles the previous requirement, will go into effect November 1 and is designed to “reduce low-skilled labour immigration.” All applicants, whether they aim to qualify for a visa for the first time or wish to renew a work permit, “must have a salary that amounts to at least 80% of the current median salary,” which is posted annually on Statistics Sweden.In Sweden that is presently SEK (Swedish Krona) 27,360, or CAD$3,345. Immigrants previously had to earn SEK 13,000 to earn a work permit. With the amendment of the 'Alien Act,' the government says “a labour immigrant must achieve a good income through their employment in order to be granted a work permit.".Human Events reported an estimated “one in every four employees earns less than the requirement.”Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said earlier in 2023 the bill is “an important part of the paradigm shift” Sweden is “implementing in the field of immigration.”“[It] aims to reduce fraud and exploitation linked to work-related immigration, while making it easier for more people who are already in Sweden to take the jobs that are available,” she said..Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice said the move to “reduce low-skilled labour immigration” is to increase employee opportunities for Swedish nationals.“In many cases it involves work that could instead be performed by people who already live in Sweden,” the website reads. Sweden is anticipating 100,000 immigrants seeking work permits in 2023, with only 24,000 granted in 2022, as per Human Events. The bill is expected to affect industries such as food and beverage, cleaners and other domestic and hospitality sectors, as per the government website, including “service, care, sales, agriculture, gardening, forestry, berry picking, fishing and occupations that demand a shorter education or introduction.”Groups unaffected by the legislation are people from the EU and “seasonal employees from third countries who come [to Sweden] under the seasonal employment directive,” as well as “professional coaches and athletes, au pairs, trainees within the framework of international exchange or trainees with traineeships related to higher education, and researchers.”Stenergard reportedly announced Swedish authorities could potentially deport anyone who sympathizes with Hamas in the conflict with Israel, as per a Turkiye News article published Saturday. “If a person chooses to glorify the death spread by terrorism, then the question can be raised whether they have lost the right to stay here,” Stenergard said.
