2026-03-182025/26:SfU12 · p.13SfUMigration & social insurance
Regulation of labour immigration
Continued tightening of the rules on labour immigration
What's at stake: Labour immigration is chiefly concentrated in low-paid occupations without high educational requirements, such as the cleaning and restaurant industries, where labour-market crime and abuse of the system are most common according to the Migration Agency's analysis. How the rules are designed affects both legitimate employers' ability to recruit foreign labour and the protection of labour migrants against exploitation.
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 rules on labour immigration should be tightened further through higher requirements for work permits, as the government and the committee propose, or whether regulation should instead be based on companies' skills needs and combat labour-market crime through targeted checks rather than general wage floors.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the raised wage requirement has partly achieved its purpose, but that labour immigration into low-paid occupations without high educational requirements remains extensive. Since the skills needs in these occupations can in most cases be met by the existing workforce in Sweden, with an exception system for isolated cases, the committee shares the government's assessment that the rules need to be tightened further, and endorses the proposal.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 12 (C, MP)
The reservation (C, MP) argues that the government's ongoing tightening of the conditions for labour immigration harms the Swedish economy and the many people who have come to Sweden and who contribute to growth, business development and welfare. Regulation should instead be based on companies' skills needs, and labour-market crime should be tackled through effective targeted checks rather than general wage floors and the exclusion of entire occupational groups.
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 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 | Yes 15/0/0/7 | follows 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: medium | 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 rejects motion 2025/26:3881 by Niels Paarup-Petersen et al. (C) demand 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3881 av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the Government's bill proposals where conditions for labour immigration are tightened, while immigration of highly qualified workers is promoted. Among other things, a requirement for comprehensive health insurance and a wage requirement are introduced as conditions for labour immigration. Certain professional groups may be exempted from the wage requirement while other professional groups may 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 subject to certain sanctions. The legislative amendments also entail that two new crimes, exploitation of foreign workers and trafficking in work permits, are introduced. At the same time, the special fee for those who have a foreign worker employed who does not have the right to stay or work in Sweden is raised. Furthermore, the validity period of so-called EU Blue Cards and for seasonal work is extended. Moreover, the possibilities for certain highly qualified foreigners to apply for a residence permit from within Sweden are expanded. The legislative amendments come 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. (C, MP) — 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 labour immigration shall be built on secure conditions and socio-economic needs, not be driven by companies' own competence needs.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that labour immigration shall be built on secure conditions and socio-economic needs, not be driven by companies' own competence needs. It sees the exploitation of people in vulnerable positions as a central threat that drives down wages and conditions for everyone. The counter-proposal's demand for regulation based on companies' needs instead of general wage floors therefore goes against the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att arbetskraftsinvandringen ska bygga på trygga villkor och samhällsekonomiska behov, alltså inte styras av företagens egna kompetensbehov. Den ser utnyttjandet av människor i utsatt ställning som ett centralt hot som pressar ned löner och villkor för alla. Motförslagets krav på en reglering utifrån företagens behov i stället för generella lönegolv går därför emot planen.
- secure conditions, not company needsdecisive»Arbetskraftsinvandringen ska bygga på trygga villkor och« (party programme ↗)“Labour immigration shall be built on secure conditions and”
- exploitation presses down wages»När människors utsatta situation utnyttjas pressas allas våra löner och våra möjligheter ner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“When people's vulnerable situation is exploited, all our wages and our opportunities are pressed down.”
- no dependence on the 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 in the workplace or be dependent on the employer to stay in Sweden.”
- collective agreements as the norm»anställda i Sverige ska skyddas av starka kollektivavtal.« (party programme ↗)“employees in Sweden shall be protected by strong collective agreements.”
The plan establishes that labour immigration should be limited and wants to introduce a labour market test, which is the opposite of the counter-proposal's requirement that regulation should be based on companies' skills needs.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that labour immigration should be limited and wants to introduce a labour market test, which is the opposite of the counter-proposal's requirement that regulation should be based on companies' skills needs. The plan also means that the current system often leads to people being exploited and that inadequately regulated labour immigration has created a shadow labour market. The need for highly educated workforce in shortage occupations is recognised, but as an exception and not as the main rule.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att arbetskraftsinvandringen ska begränsas och vill införa en arbetsmarknadsprövning, vilket är motsatsen till motförslagets krav att regleringen ska utgå från företagens kompetensbehov. Planen menar också att dagens ordning ofta leder till att människor utnyttjas och att en otillräckligt reglerad arbetskraftsinvandring har fött en skuggarbetsmarknad. Behovet av högutbildad arbetskraft i bristyrken erkänns, men som undantag och inte som huvudregel.
- limited labour immigrationdecisive»Arbetskraftsinvandringen ska begränsas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Labour immigration should be limited.”
- labour market test»Vi vill införa en arbetsmarknadsprövning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to introduce a labour market test.”
- needs-driven immigration through the parties»Arbetskraftsinvandring som är behovsstyrd och regleras av arbetsmarknadens parter.« (party programme ↗)“Labour immigration that is needs-driven and regulated by the labour market parties.”
- exception 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 workforce in shortage occupations.”
The plan explicitly states that Sweden shall be open for labor immigration and that it makes Sweden stronger.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that Sweden shall be open for labor immigration and that it makes Sweden stronger. Abuse shall be met with strong measures against employers who exploit foreign workers, that is with targeted measures rather than general cutbacks. That is precisely the counter-proposal's line. The plan also wants to shorten processing times for work permits.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger uttryckligen att Sverige ska vara öppet för arbetskraftsinvandring och att den gör Sverige starkare. Missbruket ska mötas med krafttag mot de arbetsgivare som exploaterar utländsk arbetskraft, alltså med riktade åtgärder snarare än generella åtstramningar. Det är precis motförslagets linje. Planen vill dessutom korta handläggningstiderna för arbetstillstånd.
- open labor immigrationdecisive»Sverige ska vara ett land som är öppet för arbetskraftsinvandring.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a country that is open for labor immigration.”
- immigrant labor strengthens Sweden»enskilde personen och bidrar till att göra Sverige starkare.« (party programme ↗)“the individual and contributes to making Sweden stronger.”
- targeted measures against exploitation»Det krävs krafttag mot arbetsgivare som exploaterar utländsk« (party programme ↗)“It requires strong measures against employers who exploit foreign”
- 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 goes faster to enter society.”
The plan explicitly states that labour immigration should be protected, that businesses must quickly be able to recruit the right expertise and that policy must not fail those businesses that cannot manage without it.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that labour immigration should be protected, that businesses must quickly be able to recruit the right expertise and that policy must not fail those businesses that cannot manage without it. A continued tightening with general wage floors and excluded occupational groups runs directly counter to this. The counter-proposal's line, to start from businesses' skills needs and combat misuse with targeted checks, is the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger uttryckligen att arbetskraftsinvandringen ska värnas, att företagen snabbt måste kunna rekrytera rätt kompetens och att politiken inte får svika de företag som inte klarar sig utan den. En fortsatt åtstramning med generella lönegolv och uteslutna yrkesgrupper går rakt emot detta. Motförslagets linje, att utgå från företagens kompetensbehov och bekämpa missbruk med riktade kontroller, är planens linje.
- 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 businesses to be able to compete, they must have the possibility to quickly find, recruit and employ the right expertise.”
- recruitment from other countries»Sverige behöver också ett politiskt ledarskap som ser resten av världen som en möjlighet, inte som ett hot — som öppnar upp nya marknader för svenska varor och tjänster och gör det möjligt att rekrytera medarbetare från andra länder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden also needs political leadership that sees the rest of the world as an opportunity, not as a threat — that opens up new markets for Swedish goods and services and makes it possible to recruit staff from other countries.”
- business skills needs»Politiken får inte svika alla de företag som inte klarar sig utan arbetskraftsinvandring.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Policy must not fail all those businesses that cannot manage without labour immigration.”
- migration enriches»Migration berikar individer och har genom åren därigenom gjort Sverige rikare, såväl ekonomiskt som kulturellt som intellektuellt.« (party programme ↗)“Migration enriches individuals and has through the years thereby made Sweden richer, economically as well as culturally as well as intellectually.”
The plan wants more skilled people to be attracted to labour migration, wants both temporary workers and new residents to be welcomed and wants competence deportations to end.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants more skilled people to be attracted to labour migration, wants both temporary workers and new residents to be welcomed and wants competence deportations to end. Misuse of the system shall be met with targeted measures against undeclared work, not with general tightening. A further tightening that excludes entire occupational groups therefore goes against the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att fler kunniga människor lockas att arbetskraftsinvandra, att både tillfällig arbetskraft och nya invånare välkomnas och att kompetensutvisningarna upphör. Missbruk av systemet ska mötas med riktade åtgärder mot svartjobb, inte med generell åtstramning. En fortsatt skärpning som exkluderar hela yrkesgrupper går därför emot planen.
- welcome labour migrationdecisive»Fler kunniga människor ska lockas att arbetskraftsinvandra till vårt land och bidra till vårt« (party programme ↗)“More skilled people shall be attracted to labour migration to our country and contribute to our”
- stop competence deportations»Tillfälliga arbetstillstånd ska kunna ges för en längre period än i dag. Kompetensutvisningarna av högkvalificerad arbetskraft måste få ett slut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Temporary work permits shall be able to be given for a longer period than today. Competence deportations of highly qualified workers must end.”
- targeted measures against misuse»för att systemet för arbetskraftsinvandring inte ska missbrukas« (party programme ↗)“so that the system for labour migration is not misused”
- competitive wage floor»Lönegolvet för arbetskraftsinvandring ska vara konkurrenskraftigt ur ett internationellt« (party programme ↗)“The wage floor for labour migration shall be competitive from an international”
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 migration and establishes that a strict immigration policy is required to address integration problems and exclusion.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto runs on strict migration and establishes that a strict immigration policy is required to address integration problems and exclusion. The party programme wants to counteract irregular migration and abuse of the systems and emphasizes that people's own will and ability to support themselves should be utilized, which argues for skill needs in low-wage occupations to be met primarily with existing workforce. The counter-proposal, which wants to reverse the tightening and let companies' skill needs govern regulation, thus goes against the plan.
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 missbruk av systemen och betonar att människors egen vilja och förmåga till egenförsörjning ska tas tillvara, vilket talar för att kompetensbehov i lågbetalda yrken i första hand möts med befintlig arbetskraft. Motförslaget, som vill vända åtstramningen och låta företagens kompetensbehov styra regleringen, går därför emot planen.
- strict immigration policydecisive»Stram migrationspolitik krävs för att ta itu med integrationsproblem och utanförskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strict immigration policy is required to address integration problems and exclusion.”
- strict migration as electoral pledge»EN STRAM MIGRATION« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A STRICT MIGRATION”
- counteract abuse of the systems»Vi vill motverka irreguljär migration, motverka människosmuggling och ha ett« (party programme ↗)“We want to counteract irregular migration, counteract human trafficking and have a”
- existing workforce is utilized»vilja och förmåga till egenförsörjning ska tas tillvara.« (party programme ↗)“will and ability to support themselves should be utilized.”
The plan establishes that immigration to Sweden needs to decrease and that integration capacity should guide the level, which speaks against the counter-proposal's demand to stop the tightening of labor immigration.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that immigration to Sweden needs to decrease and that integration capacity should guide the level, which speaks against the counter-proposal's demand to stop the tightening of labor immigration. The plan first and foremost wants employers to find expertise within Sweden's borders. At the same time, the plan protects foreign elite expertise by stopping skilled deportations.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att invandringen till Sverige behöver minska och att integrationsförmågan ska styra nivån, vilket talar emot motförslagets krav på att stoppa åtstramningen av arbetskraftsinvandringen. Planen vill i första hand att arbetsgivare hittar kompetens inom Sveriges gränser. Samtidigt värnar planen den utländska spetskompetensen genom att stoppa kompetensutvisningarna.
- decreased immigrationdecisive»Invandringen till Sverige behöver minska för att integrationen ska fungera bättre.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Immigration to Sweden needs to decrease for integration to work better.”
- expertise first and foremost domestic»Där du som vill anställa har möjlighet att hitta rätt kompetens inom Sveriges gränser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where you who want to hire have the opportunity to find the right expertise within Sweden's borders”
- regulated openness»Öppenhet är inte samma sak som gränslöshet.« (party programme ↗)“Openness is not the same as boundlessness.”
- protect elite expertise»Sätta stopp för kompetensutvisningarna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop skilled deportations”
The counter-proposal wants labour immigration to be based on companies' competency needs instead of general wage floors.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants labour immigration to be based on companies' competency needs instead of general wage floors. The election manifesto requires precisely the opposite—that labour immigration to occupations that can be met by domestic workforce is stopped and that a genuine labour market test is introduced, with reference to the fact that low-skilled jobs should be performed by those already in Sweden. The plan thus speaks against the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att arbetskraftsinvandringen utgår från företagens kompetensbehov i stället för generella lönegolv. Valmanifestet kräver rakt motsatt att arbetskraftsinvandring till yrken som kan tillgodoses av inhemsk arbetskraft stoppas och att en riktig arbetsmarknadsprövning införs, med hänvisning till att lågkvalificerade arbeten borde utföras av dem som redan finns i Sverige. Planen talar därmed emot kravet.
- 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”
- domestic workforce first»Den bedrivna politiken har lett till arbetskraftsinvandring även för mindre kvalificerade arbeten, som borde kunnat tillgodoses av svenskar eller personer som redan finns i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The policy pursued has led to labour immigration even for less skilled jobs, which should have been able to be met by Swedes or people already in Sweden.”
- 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.”
- strictest possible regulations»Skärpa reglerna i utlänningslagen till striktas möjliga nivå enligt EU-rätten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sharpen the rules in the Aliens Act to the strictest possible level according to EU law”
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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