Unions propose task force on job security law
Sweden's main trade union organisation has proposed establishing a joint team to try to reach an agreement with employers over the law on job security. Landsorganisationen i Sverige (LO), an umbrella organisation representing 15 Swedish trade unions, believes it is time to "come to terms with the myths, hearsay and deliberate misconceptions" about the law, LO negotiating secretary Per Bardh wrote in an opinion piece published in the Dagens Industri daily on Wednesday.
Bardh proposed moving away from the abundance of inquiries into the law, which only serves to confuse the debate, and instead he proposes reasoning with employers over the law's function.
One myth Bardh sought to debunk was the law's supposed impact on youth unemployment. He argued his belief that it is not the law that is preventing companies from hiring young people.
"Young people are in my opinion shut out because companies have no jobs to offer," he wrote, denying that the generous job security and conditions have created a high threshold for labour market entry.
However, he did not exclude the possibility that the law could cause real problems for companies, hence his suggestion to form a task force to sit down and discuss the issues.
"We must try to get to the bottom of what are the myths and phantom pains - and what employers actually have justification for wanting to see change in the law," Bardh wrote.
Bardh is hopeful that there is interest on the part of employers to discuss the law.
"The matter is so infected and difficult between the parties. This can be a way to straighten things out. However, we are not in a position where we want to sit down and negotiate the law," he wrote.
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Landsorganisationen i Sverige (LO), an umbrella organisation representing 15 Swedish trade unions, believes it is time to "come to terms with the myths, hearsay and deliberate misconceptions" about the law, LO negotiating secretary Per Bardh wrote in an opinion piece published in the Dagens Industri daily on Wednesday.
Bardh proposed moving away from the abundance of inquiries into the law, which only serves to confuse the debate, and instead he proposes reasoning with employers over the law's function.
One myth Bardh sought to debunk was the law's supposed impact on youth unemployment. He argued his belief that it is not the law that is preventing companies from hiring young people.
"Young people are in my opinion shut out because companies have no jobs to offer," he wrote, denying that the generous job security and conditions have created a high threshold for labour market entry.
However, he did not exclude the possibility that the law could cause real problems for companies, hence his suggestion to form a task force to sit down and discuss the issues.
"We must try to get to the bottom of what are the myths and phantom pains - and what employers actually have justification for wanting to see change in the law," Bardh wrote.
Bardh is hopeful that there is interest on the part of employers to discuss the law.
"The matter is so infected and difficult between the parties. This can be a way to straighten things out. However, we are not in a position where we want to sit down and negotiate the law," he wrote.
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