The Local Sweden

How Switzerland avoided a coronavirus 'catastrophe' by protecting cross-border workers

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 18:19:29 +0200

The coronavirus pandemic and the pressure to close borders presented a unique challenge for Switzerland. Daniel Wighton looks at how significant and speedy action was taken to protect the country's legion of cross-border workers and avoid a catastrophe in its health service.

Coronavirus: Sweden's economy plunging despite refusal to lockdown

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 12:25:29 +0200

Unlike most countries, Sweden never locked down during the coronavirus pandemic, largely keeping businesses operating, but the economy appears to be taking a hard hit nonetheless.

Coronavirus: Sweden admits failure to protect elderly in care homes

Sun, 10 May 2020 11:58:05 +0200

Bjorn Branngard's mother died in a Stockholm nursing home where five of the eight people in her section and more than a third of residents have so far succumbed to the new coronavirus.

Coronavirus across Europe: How the pandemic has affected those living abroad

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 13:58:37 +0200

Our journalists and reporters around Europe sum up the impact of the coronavirus.

Sweden: Furloughed airline and hotel staff retrained to help hospitals

Sat, 11 Apr 2020 17:01:48 +0200

Furloughed because of the coronavirus pandemic, airline and hotel employees in Sweden are retraining to work as hospital and nursing home assistants as the death toll nears 900 in the Scandinavian country.

Coronavirus across Europe: An inside view as countries plot a path back to normal life

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 13:45:08 +0200

AS the coronavirus epidemic continues to claim thousands of lives, how are different countries around Europe plotting a route back to normality? Our journalists and contributors give their latest insights.

More than 100 coronavirus patients have now died in Sweden

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 16:16:57 +0100

New figures released on Saturday show that a total of 102 people have now died in Sweden after contracting the coronavirus.

Explaining the science behind Sweden's relaxed coronavirus approach

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 14:29:12 +0100

A growing number of Swedish doctors and scientists are raising alarm over the Swedish government’s approach to COVID-19.

Swedish sick pay reputation 'misleading'

Sun, 04 Jan 2015 20:57:00 +0100

Sweden's reputation as a country where people are fond of taking paid sick days is inaccurate, with most people reporting no days off work in a recent study, a rehabilitation science expert has argued.

Minister sounded alarm on sick pay rules

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:53:00 +0200

Former Social Security Minister Cristina Husmark Pehrsson foresaw problems with the new sick pay rules and her ministry raised the alarm, only to be knocked back in negotiations, according to a memo which emerged on Thursday.

Swede causes airborne meningitis scare

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0100

A Swedish woman was at the heart of a meningitis scare aboard a plane which was held in isolation at Copenhagen Kastrup airport on Wednesday after revealing that she may be suffering from the potentially fatal condition.

Social Insurance Agency 'too generous': report

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:44:00 +0100

Sweden's Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) has labelled itself too generous in handing out early retirement pensions on grounds of sickness since tougher rules were introduced in 2008.

Checks prompt decline in child sickness benefit cheats: report

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:33:00 +0200

Cases of suspected fraud by parents claiming benefits for the care of sick children have declined dramatically following the introduction of an absence certificate requirement, a new report by the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) shows.

Swedish study links height to pay

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:09:00 +0100

The height of Swedish men has a direct correlation to how much they earn, a new study has shown.

Early retirement rises - sick leave down

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 16:35:00 +0200

The cost of paying for illness-related "early retirement" in Sweden is expected to rise by three billion kronor in 2005, according to new figures from the Swedish Social Insurance Administration. At the same time, the cost of sick benefit will fall by almost the same amount.