The Local Sweden

Care provider 'exploited immigrants': report

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:37:00 +0200

A company within Sweden's home care services (hemtjänst) could have mistreated migrant workers by making false promises about work conditions, according to a report by newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN).

EU rules leave migrant pickers out in the cold

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:41:00 +0200

Over the last decade migrant workers scouring the woods of central Sweden for berries have become a common sight. However, after reports of poor conditions and violence, contributor Jacob Sommer heads to a campsite in eastern Sweden to find out more.

Stranded pickers to be bussed home: official

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:48:00 +0200

Bulgaria has agreed to bring home hundreds of its nationals stranded in Sweden by false promises of jobs as seasonal berry-pickers, the city of Stockholm said Wednesday.

Bulgarian berry pickers heading home

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:08:00 +0200

Most of the Bulgarian berry pickers stranded outside the country's embassy in Stockholm in recent days had returned home by Sunday morning with officials hoping that the remainder will have been helped by Monday.

Bulgarian berry pickers camp out in Stockholm

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 19:09:00 +0200

Some 200 Bulgarian berry pickers have gathered outside the Bulgarian embassy in central Stockholm after promises of work bore no fruit.

Man held for smuggling berry pickers to Sweden

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:22:00 +0200

A man was arrested and detained by police Thursday on suspicion of people-smuggling after berry pickers in eastern Sweden claimed they were tricked into coming to the country.

Berry pickers targeted in rock-throwing attack

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:30:00 +0200

Berry pickers at a makeshift camp in eastern Sweden were forced to call police on Wednesday night after unknown assailants threw rocks at them in the latest round of escalating tensions between locals and the migrant workers.

New 'blingon' berry found in Sweden

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:20:00 +0200

A new type of berry has been found in the forests of western Sweden and has been given the name "blingon" - a result of the natural union of the lingon and blueberry.

Foraging for Sweden's autumn delights

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:37:00 +0200

As the chill of autumn starts to sweep across Sweden, food blogger Maia Brindley Nilsson offers some tips about how to find some of the culinary treasures hidden in Sweden's forests.

'Lazy' Romanian berry pickers in wage protest

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:02:00 +0200

A group of Romanian berry pickers staged a protest on Wednesday, arguing that have been brought to Sweden on false premises and after their employer in Värmland in western Sweden rejected their claims and accused them of being "lazy".

Trucker goes berserk in bizarre berry picker blitz

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:01:00 +0200

A 42-year-old truck driver is being questioned by police in central Sweden after he tried to run down two berry pickers and then used a truck to drag their car 700 metres before dumping it in a ditch.

Tougher rules to protect Sweden's berry pickers

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:11:00 +0200

The Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) has tightened regulations for hiring seasonal berry pickers ahead of the 2011 season.

Berry picker plight examined by rights group

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:16:00 +0100

After several years of scandals involving guest workers imported to Sweden to pick berries in the north of the country, the Swedish human rights and corporate social responsibility watchdog Swedwatch has opened an investigation.

Farmers look to curb right of public access

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:46:00 +0100

A Swedish famers' association wants to set limits on Sweden's cherished right of free access for berry pickers, skiers and horse riders.

Berry pickers had invalid contract: Swedish union

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0200

The employment agreement covering 290 Vietnamese berry pickers who worked in Swedish fields last summer, dozens of whom still remain in Europe, should never have been approved, according to a Swedish union.

Berry pickers set to keep mystery stash of cash

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:48:00 +0100

A group of berry pickers who came across a sizeable sum of money last summer while working in a forest outside of Växjö in southern Sweden will most likely be allowed to hang on to the mysterious loot.