2024-03-212023/24:AU6 · p.5AULabour market
Measures for equality and against discrimination in working life, etc.
What's at stake: How the issue is handled affects whether unjustified pay differences between women and men continue to be exposed and addressed through existing tools, and whether structural discrimination against people with a foreign background in the labour market - reflected in gaps in unemployment, pay and reported discrimination in recruitment - gets a dedicated inquiry. It mainly concerns employees and jobseekers affected by unequal pay or discrimination.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether existing tools such as pay mapping and the National Mediation Office's monitoring are enough to close the pay gap between women and men and counter discrimination in working life, or whether the government should set up a dedicated inquiry into structural discrimination in the labour market, with a particular focus on ethnic background.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions. It shares the motions' concern about closing the pay gap between women and men, but points out that pay mapping is already a central tool within employers' duty to take active measures under the Discrimination Act, that the National Mediation Office is tasked with analysing pay and income from an equality perspective, and that an inquiry into implementing the EU pay transparency directive in Swedish law is already under way. Against that background, the committee considers no further measures necessary now.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 12 (S)
The reservation (S) calls for the government to set up an inquiry, including voices from the groups affected, to examine and analyse structural discrimination in the labour market with a particular focus on ethnic background. It points to data from Statistics Sweden and research showing gaps in unemployment and pay levels between people born in Sweden and abroad, and reported discrimination in recruitment against people with non-Swedish-sounding names, and calls for concrete action plans for a more inclusive labour market.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 12 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/18/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/89/0/17 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/13/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 13/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 56/0/0/12 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motions 2023/24:76 by Nooshi Dadgostar et al. (V) demands 19 and 20, 2023/24:386 by Michael Rubbestad et al. (SD) demands 1 and 9, 2023/24:403 by Staffan Eklöf et al. (SD) demand 36, 2023/24:463 by Tony Haddou et al. (V) demand 2, 2023/24:1029 by Dzenan Cisija (S), 2023/24:1240 by Martina Johansson (C) demand 4, 2023/24:2499 by Helena Vilhelmsson et al. (C) demand 37, 2023/24:2664 by Janine Alm Ericson et al. (MP) demands 9 and 12 as well as 2023/24:2691 by Märta Stenevi et al. (MP) demands 50, 64 and 65.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:76 av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V) yrkandena 19 och 20, 2023/24:386 av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1 och 9, 2023/24:403 av Staffan Eklöf m.fl. (SD) yrkande 36, 2023/24:463 av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V) yrkande 2, 2023/24:1029 av Dzenan Cisija (S), 2023/24:1240 av Martina Johansson (C) yrkande 4, 2023/24:2499 av Helena Vilhelmsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 37, 2023/24:2664 av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 9 och 12 samt 2023/24:2691 av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 50, 64 och 65.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 70 proposals in motions from the general motion period 2023. The proposals concern, among other things, strategies to achieve an equal society, work against men's violence against women and against honor-related violence and oppression, as well as measures against discrimination in working life. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to ongoing work in these areas.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to establish an equality commission to examine and provide recommendations on how an equal society can be achieved. (S) — Reservation 12
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan establishes that discrimination and racism on the labour market must be stopped and describes how people with foreign background have higher unemployment, more precarious employment and lower wages as an expression of structural racism.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that discrimination and racism on the labour market must be stopped and describes how people with foreign background have higher unemployment, more precarious employment and lower wages as an expression of structural racism. An investigation of structural discrimination with focus on ethnic background follows directly from that. The plan also requires that those exposed to racism themselves are given space in anti-racist work.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att diskrimineringen och rasismen på arbetsmarknaden måste stoppas och beskriver hur personer med utländsk bakgrund har högre arbetslöshet, otryggare anställningar och lägre löner som uttryck för strukturell rasism. En utredning av strukturell diskriminering med fokus på etnisk bakgrund följer direkt av det. Planen kräver dessutom att de som utsätts för rasism själva ges utrymme i det antirasistiska arbetet.
- stop racism on the labour marketdecisive»Diskrimineringen och rasismen på arbetsmarknaden måste stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Discrimination and racism on the labour market must be stopped.”
- ethnicized labour market»personer med utländsk bakgrund har högre arbetslöshet, otryggare anställningsförhållanden och« (party programme ↗)“people with foreign background have higher unemployment, more precarious employment and”
- struggle against structural racism»Arbetet mot det etnifierade klassamhället kräver både antirasistisk kamp riktad mot den strukturella rasism« (party programme ↗)“Work against the ethnicized class society requires both anti-racist struggle directed against the structural racism”
- the voices of those affected must be heard»framgångsrik antirasism förutsätter att de som på olika sätt utsätts för rasism får utrymme att tillsammans med övriga progressiva och antirasistiska organisationer och människor bedriva en systematisk kamp« (party programme ↗)“successful anti-racism presupposes that those in various ways exposed to racism are given space to together with other progressive and anti-racist organizations and people conduct a systematic struggle”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto establishes that discrimination on the labor market shall be countered, and the party programme notes that employment, wages and opportunities vary greatly depending on skin color, ethnicity and religion.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that discrimination on the labor market shall be countered, and the party programme notes that employment, wages and opportunities vary greatly depending on skin color, ethnicity and religion. Investigating and analyzing structural discrimination with focus on ethnic background is a direct means for these commitments. The plan also wants to see more initiatives for foreign-born people to enter the workforce.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att diskrimineringen på arbetsmarknaden ska motarbetas, och partiprogrammet konstaterar att sysselsättning, lön och möjligheter varierar stort beroende på hudfärg, etnicitet och religion. Att utreda och analysera strukturell diskriminering med fokus på etnisk bakgrund är ett direkt medel för dessa åtaganden. Planen vill dessutom se fler insatser för att utlandsfödda ska komma i arbete.
- counter discrimination in working lifedecisive»Diskrimineringen på arbetsmarknaden ska motarbetas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Discrimination on the labor market shall be countered.”
- ethnic gaps in the labor market»Vi ser idag att sysselsättningsnivå, lön och möjligheter på arbetsmarknaden varierar stort beroende på hudfärg, etnicitet, religion och kulturell tillhörighet.« (party programme ↗)“We see today that employment levels, wages and opportunities on the labor market vary greatly depending on skin color, ethnicity, religion and cultural affiliation.”
- anti-racist party»Socialdemokraterna är ett antirasistiskt parti, som strävar efter jämlikhet oavsett hudfärg, etnisk och kulturell tillhörighet eller religion.« (party programme ↗)“The Social Democrats are an anti-racist party, striving for equality regardless of skin color, ethnic and cultural affiliation or religion.”
- initiatives for people born abroad»Fler insatser krävs för att utlandsfödda kvinnor ska komma i arbete« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More initiatives are needed for foreign-born women to enter the workforce”
The election manifesto explicitly commits to producing systematic statistics to illuminate discrimination and racism in society, which is exactly what the counter-proposal's investigation into structural discrimination in the labour market shall do.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly commits to producing systematic statistics to illuminate discrimination and racism in society, which is exactly what the counter-proposal's investigation into structural discrimination in the labour market shall do. The plan also wants to strengthen legislation against discrimination. The party programme observes that people are discriminated against on the basis of ethnicity, name or accent and that structural discrimination exists in all areas of working life.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig uttryckligen att ta fram systematisk statistik för att belysa diskriminering och rasism i samhället, vilket är precis vad motförslagets utredning om strukturell diskriminering på arbetsmarknaden ska göra. Planen vill också stärka lagstiftningen mot diskriminering. Partiprogrammet konstaterar att människor diskrimineras på grund av etnicitet, namn eller brytning och att den strukturella diskrimineringen finns på alla områden i arbetslivet.
- systematic statistics on discriminationdecisive»ta fram systematisk statistik för att belysa diskriminering och rasism i samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“produce systematic statistics to illuminate discrimination and racism in society.”
- ethnic discrimination shall be counteracted»Människor diskrimineras på grund av sin etnicitet,« (party programme ↗)“People are discriminated against on the basis of their ethnicity,”
- structural discrimination in working life»diskrimineringen finns på alla områden i arbetslivet« (party programme ↗)“discrimination exists in all areas of working life”
- tightened discrimination legislation»stärka lagstiftningen mot diskriminering och se över rätten till rättshjälp i diskrimineringsfall.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen legislation against discrimination and review the right to legal aid in discrimination cases.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto establishes that more must be done against discrimination and that authorities' work against discrimination shall be strengthened, and the party programme that the labour market must not place those with other ethnic background at a disadvantage.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that more must be done against discrimination and that authorities' work against discrimination shall be strengthened, and the party programme that the labour market must not place those with other ethnic background at a disadvantage. An inquiry into structural discrimination in the labour market with focus on ethnic background is a means for precisely this. The plan does not specifically call for the inquiry, so the support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att mer måste göras mot diskriminering och att myndigheternas arbete mot diskriminering ska stärkas, och partiprogrammet att arbetsmarknaden inte får placera den med annan etnisk bakgrund i underläge. En utredning av strukturell diskriminering på arbetsmarknaden med fokus på etnisk bakgrund är ett medel för just detta. Planen efterfrågar inte utredningen specifikt, varför stödet är härlett.
- strengthened work against discriminationdecisive»Mer måste göras mot diskriminering. Vi vill stärka myndigheternas arbete mot diskriminering och höja ersättningen till dem som utsatts, samt lägga till kön och funktionsnedsättning som hatbrottsgrunder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More must be done against discrimination. We want to strengthen authorities' work against discrimination and raise compensation for those subjected to it, and add gender and disability as hate crime grounds.”
- no ethnic differential treatment in the labour market»utbildning eller arbete är en grundförutsättning. Arbetsmarknaden får inte systematiskt placera dem som har« (party programme ↗)“education or work is a basic prerequisite. The labour market must not systematically place those with”
- foreign-born establishment»Fler utrikes födda kvinnor måste få en chans att jobba, lära sig svenska och till fullo komma in i det svenska samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More foreign-born women must get a chance to work, learn Swedish and fully enter Swedish society.”
- counteract structural racism»Diskriminering, strukturell rasism och intolerans, i alla dess former, ska motverkas.« (party programme ↗)“Discrimination, structural racism and intolerance, in all its forms, shall be counteracted.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that an effective fight against discrimination is a prerequisite for integration to succeed, and that the state with force shall combat all kinds of racism and discrimination.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that an effective fight against discrimination is a prerequisite for integration to succeed, and that the state with force shall combat all kinds of racism and discrimination. To map structural discrimination in the labour market with a focus on ethnic background is a means to that end. The plan also wants to modernize the discrimination law and get more foreign-born persons into work.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att ett effektivt arbete mot diskriminering är en förutsättning för att integrationen ska lyckas, och att staten med kraft ska bekämpa all slags rasism och diskriminering. Att kartlägga strukturell diskriminering på arbetsmarknaden med fokus på etnisk bakgrund är ett medel för det. Planen vill också modernisera diskrimineringslagen och få fler utrikes födda i arbete.
- effective fight against discriminationdecisive»En förutsättning för att integrationen ska lyckas är ett effektivt arbete mot diskriminering.« (party programme ↗)“A prerequisite for integration to succeed is an effective fight against discrimination.”
- the state combats discrimination»Därför ska staten med kraft bekämpa all slags rasism, diskriminering och intolerans.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore the state shall with force combat all kinds of racism, discrimination and intolerance.”
- modernize discrimination law»Vi vill modernisera diskrimineringslagen, prioritera polisens hatbrottsverksamhet och säkerställa att alla skolor står upp för alla människors lika värde.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to modernize the discrimination law, prioritize police hate-crime work and ensure that all schools stand up for all people's equal value.”
- foreign-born in work»Fler utrikes födda kvinnor ska komma i arbete genom reformer av föräldraförsäkringen och flerbarnstillägget och ett mer individualiserat försörjningsstöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More foreign-born women shall get into work through reforms of parental insurance and multi-child supplements and a more individualized subsistence support.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires well-functioning laws against all discrimination in working life and points out jobs and knowledge of Swedish as keys to integration.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires well-functioning laws against all discrimination in working life and points out jobs and knowledge of Swedish as keys to integration. The counter-proposal's requirement for an investigation of structural discrimination in the labour market with a focus on ethnic background, and for action plans for a more inclusive labour market, accord with these commitments. The plan simultaneously marks that the state shall facilitate but not plan and take control, which limits how far-reaching the measures should be. No investigation of this kind is mentioned in the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver väl fungerande lagar mot all diskriminering i arbetslivet och pekar ut jobb och kunskap i svenska som nycklar till integration. Motförslagets krav på en utredning av strukturell diskriminering på arbetsmarknaden med fokus på etnisk bakgrund, och på åtgärdsplaner för en mer inkluderande arbetsmarknad, ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen markerar samtidigt att staten ska underlätta men inte planera och ta kontroll, vilket begränsar hur långtgående åtgärderna bör vara. Någon utredning av detta slag nämns inte i planen.
- laws against discrimination in working lifedecisive»Väl fungerande lagar mot all diskriminering i arbetslivet ska finnas« (party programme ↗)“Well-functioning laws against all discrimination in working life shall exist”
- work key to integration»Jobb, kunskap i svenska språket och det civila samhället är viktiga nycklar till integration« (party programme ↗)“Jobs, knowledge of the Swedish language and civil society are important keys to integration”
- state facilitates, does not govern»Staten ska medverka till att underlätta och skapa förutsättningar, men inte planera och ta kontroll« (party programme ↗)“The state shall participate in facilitating and creating conditions, but not plan and take control”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's explanation for differences between native-born and foreign-born individuals on the labour market is failed integration and lack of self-sufficiency, and its response is demands for employability, language and work.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's explanation for differences between native-born and foreign-born individuals on the labour market is failed integration and lack of self-sufficiency, and its response is demands for employability, language and work. The party programme moreover asserts the individual over collectivism and that everyone shall be judged by their person. An investigation proceeding from structural discrimination based on ethnic background lies outside that line.
Original (Swedish)
Planens förklaring till skillnaderna mellan inrikes och utrikes födda på arbetsmarknaden är misslyckad integration och bristande självförsörjning, och dess svar är krav på anställningsbarhet, språk och arbete. Partiprogrammet hävdar dessutom individen mot kollektivismen och att var och en ska bedömas efter sin person. En utredning som utgår från strukturell diskriminering utifrån etnisk bakgrund ligger vid sidan av den linjen.
- the individual before the collectivedecisive»kommer alltid hävda individen mot kollektivismen« (party programme ↗)“will always assert the individual over collectivism”
- integration's failure»Samtidigt har integrationen misslyckats. Arbetslösheten är idag fem gånger så hög bland utrikes födda som bland inrikes födda« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Meanwhile, integration has failed. Unemployment today is five times higher among foreign-born than among native-born”
- demands for employability»Genom att ställa krav på den som är ny i Sverige att göra sig anställningsbar tydliggörs att här räknar vi med att alla blir en del av samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“By demanding that someone new to Sweden make themselves employable, we make it clear that we expect everyone to become part of society.”
- individual assessment»Det jämlika människovärdet är grunden för likheten inför lagen,« (party programme ↗)“Equal human dignity is the foundation of equality before the law,”
The counter-proposal wants to investigate structural discrimination as an explanation for differences in the labour market.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to investigate structural discrimination as an explanation for differences in the labour market. The plan offers a different diagnosis: unemployment among immigrant groups is explained by low qualifications and weak incentives, and the answer is increased requirements for non-integrated persons to make themselves employable. The plan furthermore wants to stop positive differential treatment of newly arrived and opposes authority mandates that drive activist symbolic politics.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill utreda strukturell diskriminering som förklaring till skillnaderna på arbetsmarknaden. Planen ger en annan diagnos: arbetslösheten bland invandrade grupper förklaras av låga kvalifikationer och svaga drivkrafter, och svaret är höjda krav på icke integrerade att göra sig anställningsbara. Planen vill dessutom stoppa positiv särbehandling av nyanlända och motsätter sig myndighetsuppdrag som driver aktivistisk symbolpolitik.
- qualifications explain the gapdecisive»Medan arbetslösa i stor utsträckning består av invandrade grupper med låga kvalifikationer och för små drivkrafter eller möjligheter att gå från bidrag till jobb, begränsas många verksamheter av bristande kompetensförsörjning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“While unemployed to a large extent consist of immigrant groups with low qualifications and insufficient incentives or opportunities to go from benefits to work, many businesses are limited by lacking skilled labour supply.”
- requirements-based integration»Öka kraven på icke integrerade att göra sig anställningsbara« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase requirements on non-integrated persons to make themselves employable”
- no positive differential treatment»Stoppa den positiva särbehandlingen av nyanlända vad gäller jobb och lägenheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop positive differential treatment of newly arrived regarding jobs and apartments”
- no to activist authority mandates»anställning av personal på myndigheter som driver aktivistisk symbolpolitik« (2022 manifesto ↗)“employment of staff at authorities that drive activist symbolic politics”
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:AU6)
- Committee report full text (HB01AU6)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1029 — Strukturell diskriminering på arbetsmarknaden med särskilt fokus på etnisk bakgrund av Dzenan Cisija (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1240 — Företag inom besöksnäringen av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1396 — Ingen plats för hederskultur i ett demokratiskt och jämställt samhälle av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1524 — Politik för de nationella minoriteterna av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1697 — Ekonomiskt våld i nära relationer av Aida Birinxhiku (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1735 — Ekonomiskt våld av Robert Hannah m.fl. (L)
- Motion 2023/24:2073 — Mäns våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2446 — Politik för det samiska folket av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2499 — Jämställdhet på riktigt av Helena Vilhelmsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2617 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2621 — Utgiftsområde 13 Integration och jämställdhet av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2636 — Familjerätt av Jennie Nilsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2640 — Utgiftsområde 4 Rättsväsendet av Ardalan Shekarabi m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2664 — Jämställdhetspolitisk motion av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2669 — Rättspolitik av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2691 — En tydlig väg till integration av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2705 — Ett rikare liv för äldre av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:327 — Vitbok om svenska samhällets brott mot hbt-personer av Robert Hannah (L)
- Motion 2023/24:386 — Jämställdhet och diskriminering av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:403 — Svenskt jordbruk av Staffan Eklöf m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament