2024-04-252023/24:AU8 · p.6AULabour market
Workplace crime and related matters
Statute of limitations for workplace safety crimes
What's at stake: Longer limitation periods would give investigating authorities more time in complicated cases involving multiple layers of subcontracting, but this also involves weighing the interest in prosecuting more cases against the legal-certainty interest in having crimes investigated and tried within a reasonable time.
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 statute of limitations for workplace safety crimes should be extended to ease complicated investigations, or whether the current time limits should be kept while the focus is placed instead on improved cooperation between authorities.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee highlights the ongoing cooperation between the Work Environment Authority, the Police Authority and the Prosecution Authority as well as ongoing work to review the penalty scales, and does not consider that the statute of limitations needs to be extended now, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 12 (SD)
The reservation (SD) argues that the statute of limitations for workplace safety crimes should be extended, from two to four years for offences of the standard degree and correspondingly for aggravated offences, arguing that investigations are often lengthy and complicated due to multi-tier subcontracting and technically difficult chains of causation.
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 SD.
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 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/89/17 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 56/0/0/12 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | No 0/62/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:77 by Ciczie Weidby et al. (V) amendments 13, 14 and 17, 2023/24:385 by Magnus Persson et al. (SD) amendment 17, 2023/24:440 by Jessica Wetterling et al. (V) amendment 10, and 2023/24:2620 by Teresa Carvalho et al. (S) amendment 28.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:77 av Ciczie Weidby m.fl. (V) yrkandena 13, 14 och 17, 2023/24:385 av Magnus Persson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 17, 2023/24:440 av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V) yrkande 10 och 2023/24:2620 av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S) yrkande 28.
Riksdag decision: The causes of the increasing number of fatal accidents in working life should be mapped and proposals formulated to reduce the risks in this area. Particular focus should be directed at the most vulnerable sectors, such as the construction industry. This is the view of the Riksdag, which decided to make a request—a so-called tillkännagivande (formal notification)—to the government on this matter. According to the notification, the conclusions of the mapping should be used in the work of the relevant authorities on this issue and also in the implementation of the government's working environment strategy. The decision is based on what is called a committee initiative from the Labour Market Committee. This means that the committee initiated the proposal, and it does not come from a government proposition or motions from members, which is otherwise the usual approach. At the same time, the Riksdag rejected approximately 120 proposals in motions on working environment and working hours from the general motion period of 2023, partly citing ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to extend the statute of limitations for workplace crimes. (SD) — 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 wants the law to prevent employers' practical exemption from liability through chains of contracts, which is precisely the problem that justifies a longer prescription period for occupational health violations in subcontracts in several tiers.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants the law to prevent employers' practical exemption from liability through chains of contracts, which is precisely the problem that justifies a longer prescription period for occupational health violations in subcontracts in several tiers. The plan also emphasises that economic crime and exploitation are central threats and that labour law legislation should be strong. Extending the prescription period thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att lagen ska förhindra arbetsgivarens praktiska ansvarsfriskrivelse genom kedjor av kontrakt, vilket är just det problem som motiverar en längre preskriptionstid för arbetsmiljöbrott i entreprenader i flera led. Planen betonar också att ekonomisk brottslighet och utnyttjande är centrala hot och att arbetsrättslagstiftningen ska vara stark. Att förlänga preskriptionstiden ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- stop liability avoidance via subcontracting chainsdecisive»över arbetsmiljön och förhindra arbetsgivarens praktiska ansvarsfriskrivelse genom olika kedjor av kontrakt.« (party programme ↗)“concerning occupational health and prevent employers' practical exemption from liability through various chains of contracts.”
- combat economic crime»Lönedumpning, ekonomisk brottslighet och utnyttjande är centrala hot idag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Wage dumping, economic crime and exploitation are central threats today.”
- higher requirements for occupational health»tryggare anställningar, högre krav på arbetsmiljön och en starkare« (party programme ↗)“safer employment, higher requirements for occupational health and a stronger”
- strong labour law legislation»Vänsterpartiet kommer att fortsätta försvara förhandlingsrätten och en stark arbetsrättslagstiftning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party will continue to defend the right to negotiate and strong labour law legislation.”
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 overarching commitment is that it must never be profitable to neglect workers' right to a safe work environment, and that society must clearly respond to rule violations.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's overarching commitment is that it must never be profitable to neglect workers' right to a safe work environment, and that society must clearly respond to rule violations. An extended statute of limitations is a means for workplace violations to actually be prosecutable despite protracted investigations through supply chains. The party programme's demand for strong labour law legislation points the same way.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att det aldrig ska löna sig att försumma de anställdas rätt till en trygg arbetsmiljö, och att samhället tydligt ska reagera mot regelöverträdelser. En förlängd preskriptionstid är ett medel för att arbetsmiljöbrott faktiskt ska kunna lagföras trots långdragna utredningar i entreprenadkedjor. Partiprogrammets krav på stark arbetsrättslig lagstiftning pekar åt samma håll.
- workplace violations must be prosecuteddecisive»Det ska aldrig löna sig att begå brott eller skaffa sig konkurrensfördelar genom att försumma de anställdas rätt till en trygg arbetsmiljö.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It shall never be profitable to commit crimes or gain competitive advantages by neglecting employees' right to a safe working environment.”
- measures against workplace crime»Krafttag mot arbetslivskriminaliteten. Arbetslivs kriminalitet ska inte finnas på svensk arbetsmarknad och offentliga arbetsgivare och upphandlare ska vara föredömen i att verka för en sund konkurrens.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Measures against workplace crime. Workplace crime should not exist on the Swedish labour market and public employers and purchasers shall be models in promoting fair competition.”
- clear response to crimes»Samhället måste reagera tydligt mot brott och regelöverträdelser.« (party programme ↗)“Society must respond clearly to crimes and rule violations.”
- strong labour law legislation»arbetsrättslig lagstiftning behövs som skydd för de anställda.« (party programme ↗)“labour law legislation is needed as protection for employees.”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 says nothing about statutes of limitations, but establishes that criminal justice policy shall place the victim and their vulnerability at the center and that the judiciary shall be given the tools required.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about statutes of limitations, but establishes that criminal justice policy shall place the victim and their vulnerability at the center and that the judiciary shall be given the tools required. An extended statute of limitations for workplace safety crimes is just such a tool when investigations draw out over time as a result of subcontracting in multiple tiers. It also aligns with the plan's commitment to good working conditions for all.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om preskriptionstider, men slår fast att rättspolitiken ska sätta brottsoffret och dess utsatthet i centrum och att rättsväsendet ska ges de verktyg som krävs. En förlängd preskriptionstid för arbetsmiljöbrott är just ett sådant verktyg när utredningar drar ut på tiden till följd av entreprenader i flera led. Det ligger också i linje med planens åtagande om en god arbetsmiljö för alla.
- the victim at the centerdecisive»Rättspolitiken ska sätta brottsoffret och dennes utsatthet i centrum.« (party programme ↗)“Criminal justice policy shall place the victim and their vulnerability at the center.”
- tools against crime»Rättssäkerheten ska tryggas samtidigt som de rättsvårdande myndigheterna ska ges de verktyg som krävs för att bekämpa kriminaliteten och öka tryggheten i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Legal security shall be safeguarded while law enforcement authorities are given the tools required to combat crime and increase safety in society.”
- right to good working conditions»Alla har rätt till friskvård och en god fysisk och psykosocial arbetsmiljö.« (party programme ↗)“All have the right to health promotion and good physical and psychosocial working conditions.”
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 says nothing about statutes of limitations, but the guiding criminal policy line is that more crimes affecting people in their daily lives should be solved and that the perspective of crime victims should be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about statutes of limitations, but the guiding criminal policy line is that more crimes affecting people in their daily lives should be solved and that the perspective of crime victims should be strengthened. An extended statute of limitations is precisely a means for lengthy and technically complex investigations to lead to prosecution. Derived from these commitments, the counter-proposal's requirement aligns with the plan, but the basis is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om preskriptionstider, men den bärande kriminalpolitiska linjen är att fler brott som drabbar människor i vardagen ska klaras upp och att brottsofferperspektivet ska stärkas. En förlängd preskriptionstid är just ett medel för att långdragna och tekniskt komplicerade utredningar ska kunna leda till lagföring. Härlett ur dessa åtaganden ligger motförslagets krav i linje med planen, men underlaget är svagt.
- more crimes should be solveddecisive»Tryggheten ska förbättras i hela landet och fler brott som drabbar folk i deras vardag ska klaras upp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Safety should be improved throughout the country and more crimes affecting people in their daily lives should be solved.”
- strengthened victim perspective»Brottsofferperspektivet måste stärkas. Den som utsatts för brott ska få upprättelse och bättre stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The perspective of crime victims must be strengthened. Those subjected to crime should receive redress and better support.”
- deterrent and supportive criminal policy»Kriminalpolitiken ska därför både förebygga och avskräcka från brott, stödja brottsdrabbade« (party programme ↗)“Criminal policy should therefore both prevent and deter crime, support crime victims”
- strengthened justice system»mer resurser till polis, åklagare, domstolar och kriminalvården och strängare straff« (2022 manifesto ↗)“more resources for police, prosecutors, courts and prisons and stricter sentences”
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 guiding criminal policy commitment is that the justice system's efficiency must be improved so that more crimes are solved and fewer reports are closed.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's guiding criminal policy commitment is that the justice system's efficiency must be improved so that more crimes are solved and fewer reports are closed. An extended statute of limitations for occupational safety crimes directly addresses the fact that protracted and technically complicated investigations otherwise lead to crimes not being prosecutable. The plan also shows that it accepts statutes of limitations that are adapted to the investigative difficulty of the crime.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande rättspolitiska åtagande är att rättsväsendets effektivitet ska förbättras så att fler brott klaras upp och färre anmälningar avskrivs. En förlängd preskriptionstid för arbetsmiljöbrott svarar direkt mot att långdragna och tekniskt komplicerade utredningar annars leder till att brott inte kan lagföras. Planen visar också att den accepterar preskriptionsregler som anpassas efter brottets utredningssvårigheter.
- more crimes must be solveddecisive»Rättsväsendets förmåga och effektivitet behöver förbättras så att handläggningstiderna kortas, fler brott anmäls och klaras upp samt färre brottsanmälningar avskrivs.« (party programme ↗)“The justice system's capacity and efficiency must be improved so that processing times are shortened, more crimes are reported and solved and fewer criminal reports are closed.”
- statute of limitations must not prevent prosecution»För sexualbrott mot barn ska det inte finnas någon preskriptionstid.« (party programme ↗)“For sexual crimes against children there must be no statute of limitations.”
- toughened sanction system»Påföljdssystemet ska förändras så att återfall och upprepad brottslighet ger strängare straff, liksom medverkan i organiserad brottslighet.« (party programme ↗)“The sanction system must be changed so that repeat offenses and repeated criminality result in harsher sentences, as does participation in organized crime.”
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 core criminal policy is that all crimes shall be combated without exception and that offenders shall be prosecuted firmly.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's core criminal policy is that all crimes shall be combated without exception and that offenders shall be prosecuted firmly. A statute of limitations too short for lengthy public procurement investigations to be completed leads to the opposite. The election manifesto's requirement for a substantially expanded justice system points in the same direction: capacity and time must suffice for crimes to be investigated.
Original (Swedish)
Planens kriminalpolitiska kärna är att alla brott ska beivras utan undantag och att förövare ska lagföras med fasthet. En preskriptionstid som är för kort för att långdragna entreprenadutredningar ska hinna slutföras leder till motsatsen. Valmanifestets krav på ett kraftigt utbyggt rättsväsende pekar åt samma håll: kapacitet och tid ska räcka till för att brott ska kunna utredas.
- all crimes shall be combateddecisive»Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras, också sådana som kan avfärdas som smärre brott« (party programme ↗)“All crimes shall be combated effectively and without exception, including those that might be dismissed as minor offences”
- firm and prompt prosecution»Respekten för lagarna ska därför upprätthållas med fasthet och förövare av brott ska skyndsamt lagföras.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for the laws shall therefore be upheld with firmness and offenders of crimes shall be promptly prosecuted.”
- expanded justice system»Hela rättsväsendet behöver byggas ut. Fler poliser kräver fler åklagare, domstolar på fler platser i landet och en kraftigt utbyggd kriminalvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The entire justice system needs to be expanded. More police require more prosecutors, courts in more places in the country and substantially expanded criminal care.”
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 consistent criminal policy line is that more crimes shall be investigated, prosecuted and judged, and that the justice system is underdimensioned for the task.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's consistent criminal policy line is that more crimes shall be investigated, prosecuted and judged, and that the justice system is underdimensioned for the task. A longer statute of limitations for occupational health and safety crimes serves precisely that purpose when investigations are lengthy due to contractor chains and technically difficult causal chains. The plan does not specifically mention occupational health and safety crimes, but the principle points towards supporting the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planens genomgående kriminalpolitiska linje är att fler brott ska utredas, lagföras och dömas, och att rättsväsendet är underdimensionerat för uppgiften. En längre preskriptionstid för arbetsmiljöbrott tjänar just det syftet när utredningarna är långdragna på grund av entreprenadkedjor och tekniskt svåra orsaksförlopp. Planen nämner inte arbetsmiljöbrott särskilt, men principen pekar mot att stödja kravet.
- more crimes shall be prosecuteddecisive»Satsa på fler åklagare så att fler brott kan leda till fällande dom« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in more prosecutors so that more crimes can lead to conviction”
- strengthened prosecution ability»En förutsättning för att fler brottslingar ska kunna lagföras och dömas är att åklagarna har möjlighet att göra sitt jobb.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A prerequisite for more criminals to be prosecuted and judged is that prosecutors have the opportunity to do their job.”
- complex investigations take time»Många brott kräver alltmer komplicerade och tidskrävande utredningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Many crimes require increasingly complicated and time-consuming investigations.”
- victim perspective»Brottsoffrens perspektiv är viktigt i kriminalpolitiken.« (party programme ↗)“The perspective of crime victims is important in criminal policy.”
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 demands that procedural obstacles to increased prosecution are removed and that zero tolerance applies so that even less prominent crimes are investigated and prosecuted.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that procedural obstacles to increased prosecution are removed and that zero tolerance applies so that even less prominent crimes are investigated and prosecuted. A short statute of limitations is precisely such an obstacle when investigations of workplace safety crimes drag out over time in long contractor chains. The plan also wants to substantially raise penalties and states that no one should die or be seriously injured at work.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att processuella hinder för en ökad lagföring undanröjs och att nolltolerans råder så att även mindre uppmärksammade brott utreds och lagförs. En kort preskriptionstid är just ett sådant hinder när utredningar om arbetsmiljöbrott drar ut på tiden i långa entreprenadkedjor. Planen vill dessutom kraftigt höja straffen och slår fast att ingen ska avlida eller skadas allvarligt på jobbet.
- removed obstacles to prosecutiondecisive»Processuella hinder för att möjliggöra en ökad lagföring måste också undanröjas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Procedural obstacles to enabling increased prosecution must also be removed.”
- zero tolerance against crime»Införa nolltolerans mot brott så att även mindre allvarliga brott utreds och lagförs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce zero tolerance against crime so that even minor serious crimes are investigated and prosecuted”
- toughened penalties»Kraftigt höja straffen samt avskaffa mängdrabatten vid allvarliga brott mot person« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Substantially raise penalties and abolish the leniency discount in serious crimes against persons”
- safe working environment»Ingen ska behöva avlida eller skadas allvarligt på jobbet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“No one should have to die or be seriously injured at work.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:AU8)
- Committee report full text (HB01AU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1040 — Bättre arbetsmiljö av Carina Ödebrink och Azra Muranovic (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:123 — Sverige och EU:s arbetstidsdirektiv av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1252 — Lagstiftning för distansarbete av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1310 — Stärkt tillträdesrätt för skyddsombud av Hanna Westerén (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1328 — Utrikes föddas upplevelse av sin arbetsmiljö av Jamal El-Haj (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1519 — En grön klimathandlingsplan för Sverige av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1559 — Ordning och reda i upphandlingar av Johan Andersson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1776 — Klädbidrag till personal inom förskola av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1842 — Regionala skyddsombuds tillträde till arbetsplatser av Adnan Dibrani och Lars Mejern Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2010 — Företagshälsovård för alla arbetstagare av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2019 — Stärkandet av rehabiliteringsansvaret för företagaren av Sanna Backeskog m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2041 — Arbetsskor till omsorgs- och förskolepersonal av Sanna Backeskog (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2043 — Krafttag mot arbetslivskriminaliteten av Kristoffer Lindberg m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2339 — En fungerande sjukförsäkring av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:2356 — Stärkande av skyddsombudens roll av Marianne Fundahn m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2359 — Ett arbetsliv fritt från våld av Heléne Björklund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2368 — Sanktionsavgifter vid arbetsmiljöbrott av Johan Andersson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2369 — Arbetsmiljöutbildning av Johan Andersson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2382 — Sanktionsavgifter för arbetsgivare som inte följer arbetsmiljöföreskrifter av Jessica Rodén m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:239 — Arbetsmiljö och arbetsmarknad för nattarbetare av Fredrik Lindahl (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament