2026-03-182025/26:SfU12 · p.1SfUMigration & social insurance
A new salary requirement for work permits
New wage requirement for work permits in labor migration
What's at stake: A higher wage requirement could reduce abuse of labor migration and strengthen the position of labor migrants, but could also hit sectors with large recruitment needs and lower wages, as well as the people who would otherwise have obtained work permits in those occupations.
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 the wage requirement for work permits in labor migration should be raised further to counter abuse of the system and disreputable employers, or whether the current rules should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the earlier support requirement has partly achieved its purpose but that labor-related crime and abuse remain common in labor-intensive, low-paid sectors such as cleaning and restaurants, and therefore backs the government's proposal for a further increase in the wage requirement, assessing that the affected occupations' staffing needs can largely be met by the existing workforce in Sweden or through an exemption system, and that the proposal's impact on competitiveness and the economy will be limited.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V, C, MP)
The reservation considers that labor migration has historically been important but that abuse of the system needs to be addressed differently, arguing that the government's new wage requirement is not fit for purpose since disreputable employers could still continue to exploit labor migrants while the proposal hits hard at businesses with large recruitment needs; it therefore wants the proposal for a new wage requirement rejected.
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: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V, C, MP.
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 | Yes | No 0/15/0/7 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 93/0/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 0/16/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 10/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 17/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts the government's proposal for a law amending the Aliens Act (2005:716) in the parts concerning chapter 6, section 2, first paragraph 1. Thereby the Riksdag approves bill 2025/26:87 in this part and rejects the motions 2025/26:3880 by Tony Haddou et al. (V) in this part, 2025/26:3881 by Niels Paarup-Petersen et al. (C) demand 1, 2025/26:3885 by Annika Hirvonen et al. (MP) demand 1 and 2025/26:3890 by Lorena Delgado Varas and Daniel Riazat (both -) demand 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i utlänningslagen (2005:716) i de delar det avser 6 kap. 2 § första stycket 1. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2025/26:87 i denna del och avslår motionerna 2025/26:3880 av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V) i denna del, 2025/26:3881 av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C) yrkande 1, 2025/26:3885 av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP) yrkande 1 och 2025/26:3890 av Lorena Delgado Varas och Daniel Riazat (båda -) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag voted yes to the government's law proposal where the conditions for labour migration are tightened, while immigration of highly qualified labour is promoted. Among other things, a requirement for comprehensive health insurance and a salary requirement are introduced as conditions for labour migration. Certain occupational groups should be able to be exempted from the salary requirement while other occupational groups should be able to be excluded from the possibility of being granted work permits. Work permits may be refused if the employer has been convicted or is suspected of certain crimes or has been subjected to certain sanctions. The legislative amendments also introduce two new crimes: exploitation of foreign labour and trafficking in work permits. At the same time, the special fee for those who have a foreigner employed who does not have the right to reside or work in Sweden is increased. Furthermore, the permit period for so-called EU Blue Cards and for seasonal work is extended. In addition, the possibilities for certain highly qualified foreigners to apply for residence permits from within Sweden are expanded. The legislative amendments enter into force on 1 June 2026 with certain transitional provisions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the government's proposal for a new wage requirement for work permits. (V, C, MP) — Reservation 1
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 labour migration should be based on secure conditions and socioeconomic needs, not on employers' recruitment needs.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that labour migration should be based on secure conditions and socioeconomic needs, not on employers' recruitment needs. It sees it as central that no one should be dependent on their employer to stay in Sweden and that exploitation of vulnerable people drives down everyone's wages. The counter-proposal's objection to a higher wage requirement, referring to businesses' recruitment needs, therefore goes against the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att arbetskraftsinvandringen ska bygga på trygga villkor och samhällsekonomiska behov, inte på arbetsgivarnas rekryteringsbehov. Den ser det som centralt att ingen ska vara beroende av sin arbetsgivare för att få stanna i Sverige och att utnyttjandet av utsatta pressar ned allas löner. Motförslagets invändning mot ett höjt lönekrav, med hänvisning till verksamheternas rekryteringsbehov, går därför emot planen.
- labour migration on secure conditionsdecisive»Arbetskraftsinvandringen ska bygga på trygga villkor och« (party programme ↗)“Labour migration should be based on secure conditions and”
- no dependence on employer»Ingen av oss ska behöva utstå rasism på arbetsplatsen eller vara beroende av arbetsgivaren för att få stanna i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“None of us should have to endure racism at work or be dependent on the employer to stay in Sweden.”
- exploitation drives down wages»När människors utsatta situation utnyttjas pressas allas våra löner och våra möjligheter ner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“When vulnerable people's situation is exploited, all our wages and opportunities are driven down.”
- against wage dumping»Lönedumpning, ekonomisk brottslighet och utnyttjande är centrala hot idag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Wage dumping, economic crime and exploitation are central threats today.”
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 states that labour immigration shall be limited and that the unemployed in Sweden above all shall be brought into employment, which argues against the counter-proposal's line of refraining from a raised wage requirement.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that labour immigration shall be limited and that the unemployed in Sweden above all shall be brought into employment, which argues against the counter-proposal's line of refraining from a raised wage requirement. The plan also points out that today's labour immigration often leads to people being exploited, and meets it with regulation rather than only controls. According to the plan, exceptions shall target highly educated workers in shortage occupations, not low-paid sectors.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att arbetskraftsinvandringen ska begränsas och att arbetslösa i Sverige i första hand ska komma i arbete, vilket talar emot motförslagets linje att avstå från ett höjt lönekrav. Planen pekar också ut att dagens arbetskraftsinvandring ofta leder till att människor utnyttjas, och möter det med reglering snarare än enbart kontroller. Undantag ska enligt planen ta sikte på högutbildad arbetskraft i bristyrken, inte på lågbetalda branscher.
- limited labour immigrationdecisive»Arbetskraftsinvandringen ska begränsas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Labour immigration shall be limited.”
- existing workers first»I första hand ska arbetslösa i Sverige komma i arbete.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Above all, the unemployed in Sweden shall be brought into employment.”
- prevent exploitation»Dessutom leder dagens arbetskraftsinvandring ofta till att människor utnyttjas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Moreover, today's labour immigration often leads to people being exploited.”
- exceptions for shortage occupations»Samtidigt behöver vi bättre säkra tillgången till högutbildad arbetskraft i bristyrken.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time we need to better secure access to highly educated workers in shortage occupations.”
The plan explicitly establishes that Sweden shall be open to labour immigration and that abuse shall be met with strong action against employers who exploit foreign workers — not with barriers that exclude the workforce.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly establishes that Sweden shall be open to labour immigration and that abuse shall be met with strong action against employers who exploit foreign workers — not with barriers that exclude the workforce. That is exactly the counter-proposal's line: address the abuse in another way than through a higher wage requirement. The plan also wants to shorten processing times for work permits.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår uttryckligen fast att Sverige ska vara öppet för arbetskraftsinvandring och att missbruket ska mötas med krafttag mot de arbetsgivare som exploaterar utländsk arbetskraft — inte med trösklar som stänger ute arbetskraften. Det är exakt motförslagets linje: åtgärda missbruket på annat sätt än genom ett höjt lönekrav. Planen vill dessutom korta handläggningstiderna för arbetstillstånd.
- open labour immigrationdecisive»Sverige ska vara ett land som är öppet för arbetskraftsinvandring.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a country that is open to labour immigration.”
- address the abuse by employers»Det krävs krafttag mot arbetsgivare som exploaterar utländsk« (party programme ↗)“Strong action is required against employers who exploit foreign”
- equal rights in the labour market»arbetskraftsinvandrar ska ha samma rättigheter på arbetsmarknaden som andra« (party programme ↗)“labour immigrants shall have the same rights in the labour market as others”
- faster work permits»korta handläggningstiderna för arbetstillstånd och asylbeslut så att det går fortare att komma in i samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“shorten processing times for work permits and asylum decisions so that it is faster to become part of society.”
The plan explicitly states that labour immigration shall be valued and that politics cannot fail those companies that cannot manage without it; companies must be able to quickly recruit the right competence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that labour immigration shall be valued and that politics cannot fail those companies that cannot manage without it; companies must be able to quickly recruit the right competence. An additional raised wage requirement closes the door on entire professions. The counter-proposal's objection, that abuse should be addressed in other ways than with a general wage floor, is in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger uttryckligen att arbetskraftsinvandringen ska värnas och att politiken inte får svika de företag som inte klarar sig utan den; företagen måste snabbt kunna rekrytera rätt kompetens. Ett ytterligare höjt lönekrav gör det motsatta och stänger hela yrkesområden. Motförslagets invändning, att missbruket ska åtgärdas på annat sätt än med ett generellt lönegolv, ligger i linje med planen.
- protect labour immigrationdecisive»Värna arbetskraftsinvandringen. För att svenska företag ska kunna konkurrera måste de ha möjlighet att snabbt hitta, rekrytera och anställa rätt kompetens.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect labour immigration. For Swedish companies to compete they must be able to quickly find, recruit and hire the right competence.”
- meet companies' competence needs»Politiken får inte svika alla de företag som inte klarar sig utan arbetskraftsinvandring.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Politics cannot fail all those companies that cannot manage without labour immigration.”
- openness ahead of closed borders»Sverige behöver mer frihandel och internationellt samarbete, inte protektionism och stängda gränser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs more free trade and international cooperation, not protectionism and closed borders.”
- free movement across borders»Centerpartiet strävar efter öppna gränser, fri rörlighet samt en generös och human flykting- och invandringspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“The Center Party pursues open borders, free movement and a generous and humane refugee and immigration policy.”
The plan wants the wage floor for labour immigration to be competitive from an international perspective, wants both temporary labour and new residents to be welcomed and wants special skills assessments to end; abuse shall be met with targeted measures against undeclared work.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants the wage floor for labour immigration to be competitive from an international perspective, wants both temporary labour and new residents to be welcomed and wants special skills assessments to end; abuse shall be met with targeted measures against undeclared work. Another general wage requirement increase goes against this. The plan however simultaneously wants the wage floor to be constructed based on skills needs that cannot be solved in Sweden, which is why the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att lönegolvet för arbetskraftsinvandring är konkurrenskraftigt ur ett internationellt perspektiv, att både tillfällig arbetskraft och nya invånare välkomnas och att kompetensutvisningarna upphör; missbruk ska mötas med riktade åtgärder mot svartjobb. Ett ytterligare höjt generellt lönekrav går emot detta. Planen vill dock samtidigt att lönegolvet konstrueras utifrån kompetensbehov som inte kan lösas i Sverige, varför slutsatsen är osäker.
- competitive wage floordecisive»Lönegolvet för arbetskraftsinvandring ska vara konkurrenskraftigt ur ett internationellt« (party programme ↗)“The wage floor for labour immigration shall be competitive from an international”
- welcome labour immigration»Det behövs mer kvalificerad arbetskraftsinvandring till vårt land.« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for more qualified labour immigration to our country.”
- end for special skills assessments»Tillfälliga arbetstillstånd ska kunna ges för en längre period än i dag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Temporary work permits shall be able to be issued for a longer period than today.”
- targeted measures against abuse»för att systemet för arbetskraftsinvandring inte ska missbrukas« (party programme ↗)“so that the system for labour immigration is not abused”
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 election manifesto runs on strict immigration and establishes that strict immigration policy is required to tackle integration problems and exclusion.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto runs on strict immigration and establishes that strict immigration policy is required to tackle integration problems and exclusion. The party programme wants to counter irregular migration and human trafficking and emphasises that people's own ability to support themselves should be utilised. The counter-proposal, which wants to stop a raised wage requirement and instead manage abuse in another way, thereby goes against the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet går till val på en stram migration och slår fast att en stram migrationspolitik krävs för att ta itu med integrationsproblem och utanförskap. Partiprogrammet vill motverka irreguljär migration och människosmuggling och betonar att människors egen förmåga till egenförsörjning ska tas tillvara. Motförslaget, som vill stoppa ett höjt lönekrav och i stället hantera missbruket på annat sätt, går därmed emot planens linje.
- strict immigration policydecisive»Stram migrationspolitik krävs för att ta itu med integrationsproblem och utanförskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strict immigration policy is required to tackle integration problems and exclusion.”
- strict immigration as election promise»EN STRAM MIGRATION« (2022 manifesto ↗)“STRICT IMMIGRATION”
- counter abuse of migration system»Vi vill motverka irreguljär migration, motverka människosmuggling och ha ett« (party programme ↗)“We want to counter irregular migration, counter human trafficking and have a”
- self-support utilised»vilja och förmåga till egenförsörjning ska tas tillvara.« (party programme ↗)“willingness and ability to support themselves shall be utilised.”
The plan makes integration capacity decisive for the level of immigration and wishes employers to find expertise within Sweden's borders first.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes integration capacity decisive for the level of immigration and wishes employers to find expertise within Sweden's borders first. The counter-proposal wishes instead to stop an increased wage requirement and keep low-wage labour immigration open, which goes against the strict line. The plan simultaneously protects top expertise by stopping competence deportations, which the wage requirement does not address.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör integrationsförmågan styrande för invandringens nivå och vill att arbetsgivare i första hand hittar kompetens inom Sveriges gränser. Motförslaget vill i stället stoppa ett höjt lönekrav och hålla lågbetald arbetskraftsinvandring öppen, vilket går emot den strama linjen. Planen värnar samtidigt spetskompetens genom att stoppa kompetensutvisningar, vilket lönekravet inte träffar.
- integration capacity determines the leveldecisive»Vår integrationsförmåga ska vara styrande för nivån på invandringen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our integration capacity shall be decisive for the level of immigration.”
- expertise first from domestic sources»Där du som vill anställa har möjlighet att hitta rätt kompetens inom Sveriges gränser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where you who wish to employ have the opportunity to find the right expertise within Sweden's borders”
- protect foreign top expertise»Sätta stopp för kompetensutvisningarna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop competence deportations”
- regulated but purposeful immigration»Invandring är både önskvärt och nödvändigt« (party programme ↗)“Immigration is both desirable and necessary”
The counter-proposal wants to stop a raised wage requirement for work permits and instead address the abuse in another way.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to stop a raised wage requirement for work permits and instead address the abuse in another way. The election manifesto explicitly requires that labour immigration to occupations that can be met by domestic workforce is stopped and that a genuine labour market test is introduced to prevent import of cheap labour for low-skilled occupations. A lower threshold requirement is thus something the plan speaks against.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill stoppa ett höjt lönekrav för arbetstillstånd och i stället åtgärda missbruket på annat sätt. Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen att arbetskraftsinvandring till yrken som kan tillgodoses av inhemsk arbetskraft stoppas och att en riktig arbetsmarknadsprövning införs för att hindra import av billig arbetskraft till lågkvalificerade yrken. Ett lägre trösklarkrav är därmed något planen talar emot.
- stopped low-skilled labour immigrationdecisive»Stoppa arbetskraftsinvandring till yrken som kan tillgodoses av inhemsk arbetskraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop labour immigration to occupations that can be met by domestic workforce”
- genuine labour market test»För arbetstillstånd behöver Sverige införa en riktig arbetsmarknadsprövning för att förhindra att arbetsgivare importerar billig arbetskraft från fattiga länder för att utföra yrken som kräver liten eller ingen utbildning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“For work permits Sweden needs to introduce a genuine labour market test to prevent employers from importing cheap labour from poor countries to perform occupations requiring little or no training.”
- existing workforce first»Många sådana arbeten bör kunna utföras av de hundratusentals arbetslösa som redan bor i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Many such jobs should be able to be performed by the hundreds of thousands of unemployed who already live in Sweden.”
- abused regulations»Reglerna för arbetskraftsinvandring har dessutom i praktiken slutat fungera. Korruption, fusk och handel med både uppehållstillstånd och människor är vanligt förekommande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rules for labour immigration have moreover in practice stopped working. Corruption, fraud and trafficking in both residence permits and people are common.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:SfU12)
- Committee report full text (HD01SfU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1428 — Begränsad arbetskraftsinvandring med behovsprövning av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:307 — Ordning och reda på arbetsmarknaden av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3543 — Ett samhälle för alla - stärkt funktionsrätt, trygg personlig assistans och rätt till ledsagning av Nils Seye Larsen m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2025/26:3584 — Stockholm som en hållbar tillväxtmotor av Mattias Vepsä m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3587 — Utgiftsområde 8 Migration av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3590 — Utgiftsområde 14 Arbetsmarknad och arbetsliv av Ardalan Shekarabi m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3874 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:87 Nya regler för arbetskraftsinvandring av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3880 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:87 Nya regler för arbetskraftsinvandring av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3881 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:87 Nya regler för arbetskraftsinvandring av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:3885 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:87 Nya regler för arbetskraftsinvandring av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2025/26:3890 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:87 Nya regler för arbetskraftsinvandring av Lorena Delgado Varas och Daniel Riazat (båda -)
- Motion 2025/26:449 — Återinför arbetsmarknadsprövning för arbetskraftsinvandring av Serkan Köse (S)
- Motion 2025/26:675 — Behovsprövning vid arbetskraftsinvandring från tredjeland av Leif Nysmed och Lars Mejern Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:676 — Översyn av regelverket för arbetskraftsinvandring från tredjeland av Leif Nysmed och Lars Mejern Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:781 — Dispositiv lagstiftning om lönegolv för arbetskraftsinvandring av Helén Pettersson och Åsa Karlsson (båda S)
- Proposition 2025/26:87 — Nya regler för arbetskraftsinvandring
Source: The Swedish Parliament