The Local Sweden

Foreign workers at centre of Swedish election battle

Tue, 03 Dec 2013 16:04:00 +0100

Promises by the Social Democrats to roll back reforms to Swedish laws affecting migrant workers has put the rights of foreign workers and the power of Sweden's unions front and centre in upcoming parliamentary elections, argues liberal contributor Nima Sanandaji.

Sweden 'violates the rights' of guest workers

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:23:00 +0100

A European human rights body slammed Sweden on Wednesday for failing to guarantee equal rights for foreign guest workers, in a rebuke of reforms stemming from a case involving Latvian construction workers.

'Missing' rune stone turns up near Stockholm

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:13:00 +0200

A Viking-era rune stone has been "rediscovered" near Vaxholm in the Stockholm archipelago after a group of university students stumbled across the historic rock that had been hiding in plain sight for nearly 300 years.

Nordegren's purchase of Stockholm island retreat confirmed

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:13:00 +0100

Elin Nordegren closed on a deal to buy a sprawling island estate in the Stockholm archipelago in the early days of an infidelity scandal which continues to plague her star golfer husband Tiger Woods, the island’s residents' association said on Sunday.

Unions ordered to pay for Vaxholm blockade

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:19:00 +0100

Two Swedish trade unions have been ordered to pay 2.7 million kronor ($392,000) to a Latvian construction company whose 2004 project in Vaxholm in eastern Sweden was interrupted by a union blockade.

Sweden presents new law on collective wage agreements

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:24:00 +0200

The government on Thursday presented a new legislative referral which updates conditions for foreigners working temporarily in Sweden for a foreign company following a European court’s ruling against a Swedish union in a landmark wage-dumping dispute.

Riksdag ratifies EU's Lisbon treaty

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:43:00 +0100

The Riksdag voted late Thursday night to ratify the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty, making Sweden the 25th of the 27 EU members to approve the text.

Laval asking unions for 2.8 million kronor in damages

Tue, 13 May 2008 15:08:00 +0200

Laval wants Swedish builders union Byggnads and the Swedish Electricians Union to pay 2.8 million kronor ($465,000) in damages, as well as legal expenses incurred by the Latvian construction company in connection with Vaxholm wage-dumping dispute.

'Free-for-all' to follow EU ruling

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:58:00 +0100

In the wake of the EU court ruling in the Vaxholm case, EU-legal experts expect Latvian companies will have a "free-for-all" in Sweden employing Latvian workers at wages lower than the Swedish average.

Sweden to support union at EU court

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:39:00 +0100

Sweden's new centre-right government will support Swedish builders' union Byggnads in its case against Latvian company Laval when the case reaches the European Court, employment market minister Sven Otto Littorin has said.

EU countries support Swedish union

Mon, 29 May 2006 20:17:00 +0200

Sweden has secured significant EU support for its position in the Vaxholm case, where Latvian company Laval is contesting the blockade by Swedish union Byggnads of a building site near Stockholm.

Commission backs Swedish Model

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:42:00 +0100

The 'Swedish Model' of collective agreements is in line with EU rules, according to a statement today by the European Commission.

Minister in EU withdrawal "threat"

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 21:04:00 +0100

Minister for Employment, Hans Karlsson, believes that there will be widespread calls for Sweden to leave the EU if construction workers' union, Byggnads, loses the Vaxholm case in the EU court. But critics say that Karlsson is avoiding demands to reveal if that's his own view too.

McCreevy defends support for Latvians

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:39:00 +0200

European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has repeated his support for the Latvian company Laval in its row with Swedish unions.

Barroso refuses to criticize Swedish Model

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 11:00:00 +0200

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Sunday said the EU has no plans to condemn Sweden for violating European labour rules following a union blockade of a Latvian construction company.

Vaxholm dispute goes to European Court

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 22:31:00 +0200

The European Court will decide whether a blockade of a building site near Stockholm by the Byggnads builders union is legal.