2025-05-222024/25:UbU15 · p.53UbUEducation
Employment conditions
Employment conditions for doctoral students and combined employments
What's at stake: The outcome affects the security and conditions of doctoral students and postdocs, especially those currently funded through scholarships rather than employment, as well as accessibility for researchers with disabilities.
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 employment conditions of doctoral students and researchers - including employment from the start of doctoral studies and phasing out scholarships - should be regulated through new state requirements, or whether this should continue to be handled by the labour-market parties through collective agreements.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee supports the proposal to make combined employments possible for more people and rejects the motions calling for further state-regulated employment conditions for doctoral students and researchers; it notes that it is the labour-market parties who, through collective agreements, bear the main responsibility for regulating pay and other employment conditions, and prefers instead to closely monitor developments and consider measures if needed.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 99 (V)
The reservation (V) calls for an inquiry into accessibility for researchers with disabilities, for doctoral students to be employed from the very first day of their doctoral studies with employment security for the whole doctoral period, and for scholarship funding for doctoral students and postdocs to eventually be phased out, arguing that insecure employment conditions are a major problem in the higher-education sector and that anyone who performs work should be employed on terms regulated by collective agreement.
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 99 by V.
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 | No 0/18/0/6 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| S | No | Abstain 0/1/88/17 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/14/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | Yes | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Broke with the party line
| SSofia Amloh (S, Södermanlands län) | No — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:3024 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) provisions 95 and 96, 2024/25:3217 by Amanda Lind et al. (MP) provision 105, 2024/25:3310 by Lorena Delgado Varas et al. (V) provisions 3, 8 and 9, 2024/25:3312 by Anders Ådahl et al. (C) provision 32, and 2024/25:3313 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) provision 17.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3024 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkandena 95 och 96, 2024/25:3217 av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP) yrkande 105, 2024/25:3310 av Lorena Delgado Varas m.fl. (V) yrkandena 3, 8 och 9, 2024/25:3312 av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C) yrkande 32 och 2024/25:3313 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkande 17.
Riksdag decision: The Government has presented its research policy for the years 2025–2028. In connection with this, the Government also presented a proposal which means that the Government shall be able to determine rules so that universities can decide that an appointment with them can be combined with an appointment outside the university. Parliament agreed to the Government's proposal. Today, combined appointments at universities only apply to certain positions such as specialist-trained doctors and dentists and the Government's proposal means that the limitation to certain sectors or positions can be removed. The purpose of the legislative change is to increase the opportunity for knowledge and expertise exchange between individual researchers, educational institutions and other sectors of society and thereby strengthen competence supply and competitiveness. The legislative change enters into force on 1 July 2025. Parliament also directed an urging, a so-called formal request (tillkännagivande), to the Government regarding the Government's announced investigation into how appropriate today's administrative form is for state educational institutions. According to Parliament, such an investigation into changed organizational form should not be carried out. The formal request (tillkännagivande) came in connection with a proposal in a follow-up motion. Parliament rejected the other motions, approximately 140 proposals of which come from the general motion period 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to investigate requiring universities to make research digitally accessible to the public. (V) — Reservation 99
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 to create more secure jobs by developing labour law and establishes that all employees in Sweden shall be protected by strong collective agreements, while insecure forms of employment are pointed out as a problem.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to create more secure jobs by developing labour law and establishes that all employees in Sweden shall be protected by strong collective agreements, while insecure forms of employment are pointed out as a problem. That doctoral students are employed from day one and that stipends are phased out as a form of financing follows directly from that. The demand to investigate accessibility for researchers with disabilities is supported by the plan's inclusion commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill skapa tryggare jobb genom att utveckla arbetsrätten och slår fast att alla anställda i Sverige ska skyddas av starka kollektivavtal, samtidigt som otrygga anställningsformer pekas ut som ett problem. Att doktorander anställs från första dagen och att stipendier fasas ut som finansieringsform följer direkt av det. Kravet på att utreda tillgängligheten för forskare med funktionsnedsättning stöds av planens inkluderingsåtagande.
- more secure jobs via labour lawdecisive»Vi vill skapa tryggare jobb genom att utveckla arbetsrätten.« (party programme ↗)“We want to create more secure jobs by developing labour law.”
- strong collective agreements for all»anställda i Sverige ska skyddas av starka kollektivavtal.« (party programme ↗)“employees in Sweden shall be protected by strong collective agreements.”
- insecure employment must go»Otryggheten skapas genom tillfälliga anställningar, sms-jobb, gig-jobb, deltidsjobb och bemanningsjobb.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Insecurity is created through temporary employment, SMS jobs, gig jobs, part-time jobs and staffing jobs.”
- inclusive and accessible society»Vi vill skapa ett mer inkluderande samhälle genom att stärka välfärden« (party programme ↗)“We want to create a more inclusive society by strengthening welfare”
The election manifesto wants more people to be able to work full-time in permanent jobs and that public employers shall be exemplars.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants more people to be able to work full-time in permanent jobs and that public employers shall be exemplars. The party programme sees the growth of jobs with insecure employment terms as a problem and requires that working life fairly values everyone's contributions. That doctoral students are employed from day one and that stipends are phased out follow directly from this, as does the requirement for accessibility for researchers with disabilities. The plan therefore supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill att fler ska kunna arbeta heltid i fasta jobb och att offentliga arbetsgivare ska vara föredömen. Partiprogrammet ser framväxten av jobb med osäkra anställningsvillkor som ett problem och kräver att arbetslivet rättvist värderar allas insatser. Att doktorander anställs från första dagen och att stipendier avvecklas följer direkt av detta, liksom kravet på tillgänglighet för forskare med funktionsnedsättning. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- permanent full-time jobsdecisive»Vi vill att välfärden ska gå före och att fler ska kunna arbeta heltid i fasta jobb.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want welfare to come first and more people to be able to work full-time in permanent jobs.”
- counter insecure employment»också antalet jobb med osäkra anställningsvillkor.« (party programme ↗)“also the number of jobs with insecure employment terms.”
- fair working conditions»Arbetslivet ska rättvist värdera och respektera allas insatser.« (party programme ↗)“Working life shall fairly value and respect everyone's contributions.”
- accessibility in working life»Personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Persons with disabilities shall be able to live their lives like others.”
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 party programme requires that teachers and researchers have good and secure working conditions and that doctoral students' legal protection be secured, and that secure forms of employment be created where attachment is weak.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that teachers and researchers have good and secure working conditions and that doctoral students' legal protection be secured, and that secure forms of employment be created where attachment is weak. The Swedish model with collective agreements is valued, which argues against scholarships as a financing form. Lack of accessibility is also seen as discrimination.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att lärare och forskare ska ha goda och trygga arbetsvillkor och att doktoranders rättssäkerhet ska säkras, samt att trygga anställningsformer ska åstadkommas där anknytningen är svag. Den svenska modellen med kollektivavtal värnas, vilket talar emot stipendier som finansieringsform. Bristande tillgänglighet ses dessutom som diskriminering.
- secure conditions for doctoral studentsdecisive»Lärare och forskare ska ha goda och trygga arbetsvillkor, och studenters och doktoranders inflytande och rättssäkerhet ska säkras.« (party programme ↗)“Teachers and researchers shall have good and secure working conditions, and students' and doctoral students' influence and legal protection shall be secured.”
- secure employment forms»Det är också viktigt att åstadkomma rimliga arbetsvillkor och trygga anställningsformer« (party programme ↗)“It is also important to achieve reasonable working conditions and secure forms of employment”
- collective agreements regulate work»Vi värnar den svenska modellen där arbetsmarknadens parter gemensamt förhandlar fram vad som ska gälla på arbetsmarknaden genom kollektivavtal.« (party programme ↗)“We value the Swedish model where labour market actors jointly negotiate what shall apply in the labour market through collective agreements.”
- accessibility as a right»Bristande tillgänglighet är i sig en typ av diskriminering och måste därför bli en ny diskrimineringsgrund.« (party programme ↗)“Lack of accessibility is in itself a form of discrimination and must therefore become a new ground for discrimination.”
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 party programme states that the rules of the game on the labour market to the greatest extent possible shall be determined between the parties rather than through legislation, and that laws and regulations should not override freedom of contract.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that the rules of the game on the labour market to the greatest extent possible shall be determined between the parties rather than through legislation, and that laws and regulations should not override freedom of contract. The counter-proposal's demands for state-regulated employment conditions for doctoral students and discontinued forms of stipends go against that model. The requirement for investigated accessibility for researchers with disabilities, on the other hand, aligns with the plan, but does not carry the vote.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att spelreglerna på arbetsmarknaden i mesta möjliga mån ska fastställas mellan parterna i stället för genom lagstiftning, och att lagar och regler inte bör köra över den fria avtalsrätten. Motförslagets krav på statligt reglerade anställningsvillkor för doktorander och avvecklade stipendieformer går emot den modellen. Kravet på utredd tillgänglighet för forskare med funktionsnedsättning ligger däremot i linje med planen, men bär inte voteringen.
- the parties before legislationdecisive»arbetsmarknadens parter i stället för genom lagstiftning. Det skapar en flexibel och långsiktigt hållbar arbetsmarknad och flyttar makten närmare dem som berörs.« (party programme ↗)“the parties to the labour market rather than through legislation. It creates a flexible and long-term sustainable labour market and brings power closer to those affected.”
- freedom of contract»bör lagar och regler inte köra över den fria avtalsrätten« (party programme ↗)“laws and regulations should not override freedom of contract”
- flexibility and security»Svensk arbetsmarknad behöver både mer flexibilitet och mer trygghet. Stödet vid omställning och vidareutbildning måste bli bättre.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Swedish labour market needs both more flexibility and more security. Support during transition and further education must improve.”
- accessibility for people with disabilities»Tillgängligheten är avgörande för människor med olika funktionsnedsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Accessibility is crucial for people with different disabilities.”
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 party programme establishes that there is a need for good conditions and social security for doctoral students and researchers, and the election manifesto wants to create better career paths for younger researchers.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that there is a need for good conditions and social security for doctoral students and researchers, and the election manifesto wants to create better career paths for younger researchers. Opening the labour market for persons with disabilities is a key task. Employment from day one and abolished stipends follow from this, even though the plan otherwise wants conditions to be determined in collective agreements.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att det behövs goda villkor och social trygghet för doktorander och forskare, och valmanifestet vill skapa bättre karriärvägar för yngre forskare. Att öppna arbetsmarknaden för personer med funktionsnedsättning är en huvuduppgift. Anställning från första dagen och avvecklade stipendier följer av detta, även om planen i övrigt vill att villkoren bestäms i avtal.
- security for doctoral studentsdecisive»Det behövs goda villkor och social trygghet för doktorander och forskare, ökad samverkan mellan« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for good conditions and social security for doctoral students and researchers, increased collaboration between”
- career paths for younger researchers»Vi vill öka forskningsanslagen och både skapa bättre karriärvägar för yngre forskare och se riktade satsningar på att svenska universitet ska kunna locka hit världens främsta forskare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to increase research funding and both create better career paths for younger researchers and see targeted efforts for Swedish universities to be able to attract the world's leading researchers.”
- labour market for persons with disabilities»egen försörjning. En huvuduppgift är därför att öppna arbetsmarknaden för personer med« (party programme ↗)“self-employment. A key task is therefore to open the labour market for persons with”
- conditions determined in collective agreements»avtal och inte i lag, bidrar till ansvarstagande på arbetsmarknaden.« (party programme ↗)“agreement and not in law, contributes to responsibility-taking in the labour market.”
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 places the design of employment and wage conditions with the labour market parties and requires a clear division of roles between them and the state, while rejecting state steering of wage formation.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan places the design of employment and wage conditions with the labour market parties and requires a clear division of roles between them and the state, while rejecting state steering of wage formation. The counter-proposal's demand for state-regulated employment from day one and abolished scholarships moves precisely that design to the legislator. The requirement to investigate accessibility for researchers with disabilities lies closer to the plan's line, but does not carry the proposal as a whole.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lägger utformningen av anställnings- och lönevillkor på arbetsmarknadens parter och kräver en klar rollfördelning mellan dem och staten, samtidigt som statlig styrning av lönebildningen avvisas. Motförslagets krav på statligt reglerad anställning från dag ett och avskaffade stipendier flyttar just den utformningen till lagstiftaren. Kravet på att utreda tillgänglighet för forskare med funktionsnedsättning ligger däremot nära planens linje, men bär inte förslaget som helhet.
- party responsibility for conditionsdecisive»Utformningen ska göras av arbetsmarknadens parter. En klar rollfördelning ska upprätthållas mellan dessa och staten.« (party programme ↗)“The design shall be done by the labour market parties. A clear division of roles shall be maintained between them and the state.”
- no to state wage steering»Statlig styrning av lönebildningen i form av inkomstpolitik avvisas.« (party programme ↗)“State steering of wage formation in the form of income policy is rejected.”
- security without barriers»God anställningstrygghet för alla arbetstagare ska eftersträvas. Lagstiftning om anställningsskydd ska skapa rimlig trygghet för de anställda utan att leda till omotiverade trösklar in på arbetsmarknaden.« (party programme ↗)“Good employment security for all employees shall be sought. Legislation on employment protection shall create reasonable security for employees without leading to unjustified barriers to the labour market.”
- role model in accessible employment»Stat och kommun bör föregå med gott exempel bland annat då det gäller att anställa människor med funktionsnedsättning, äldre, invandrare och personer som är i behov av rehabilitering.« (party programme ↗)“State and municipality should lead by good example among other things when it comes to employing people with disabilities, older people, immigrants and people in need of rehabilitation.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan wants strong and independent educational institutions, protected from political interference, and states that the state shall prioritize its core mission and act with caution in other areas.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants strong and independent educational institutions, protected from political interference, and states that the state shall prioritize its core mission and act with caution in other areas. The counter-proposal's requirement for state-regulated employment forms for doctoral students and abolished scholarships means instead more detailed control of the institutions' activities. The plan therefore argues against the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill ha starka och självständiga lärosäten, fredade från politisk klåfingrighet, och slår fast att staten ska prioritera sitt grunduppdrag och agera med försiktighet på andra områden. Motförslagets krav på statligt reglerade anställningsformer för doktorander och avskaffade stipendier innebär tvärtom mer detaljstyrning av lärosätenas verksamhet. Planen talar därför emot kravet.
- lärosätenas självständighetdecisive»Sverige ska ha starka och självständiga lärosäten« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have strong and independent educational institutions”
- staten prioriterar sitt grunduppdrag»Den prioriterar sitt grunduppdrag« (party programme ↗)“It prioritizes its core mission”
- höga krav i högre utbildning»Högre utbildning ska präglas av kvalitet samt höga krav och förväntningar på studenter och forskare.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education shall be characterized by quality and high demands and expectations on students and researchers.”
- frihet från politisk detaljstyrning»Värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect free research from political interference”
The plan wants to increase safety and security in working life and defend the Swedish model, where the parties regulate conditions through collective agreements.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to increase safety and security in working life and defend the Swedish model, where the parties regulate conditions through collective agreements. Hiring doctoral students from day one and phasing out stipends means that the person doing work is covered by employment and collective agreement. The plan also wants to strengthen the participation of people with disabilities in the labour market.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill öka tryggheten och säkerheten i arbetslivet och försvara den svenska modellen, där parterna reglerar villkoren i kollektivavtal. Att doktorander anställs från första dagen och att stipendier avvecklas innebär just att den som utför arbete omfattas av anställning och kollektivavtal. Planen vill dessutom stärka funktionsnedsattas deltagande på arbetsmarknaden.
- security in working lifedecisive»Öka tryggheten och säkerheten i arbetslivet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase safety and security in working life”
- parties model»Försvara den svenska modellen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Defend the Swedish model”
- accessible labour market»Funktionsnedsattas och funktionsvarierades möjligheter till deltagande på arbetsmarknaden måste stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Opportunities for people with disabilities and functional diversity to participate in the labour market must be strengthened.”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:UbU15)
- Committee report full text (HC01UbU15)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:10 — Försök inom medicinsk forskning av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1007 — Flytt av Rymdstyrelsen till Västsverige av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1096 — Stöd till forskningen om traumabehandling för sexualbrottsutsatta av Marléne Lund Kopparklint och Jan Ericson (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1103 — Bättre villkor för den forskande life science-industrin i Sverige av Helena Storckenfeldt och Gustaf Göthberg (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1313 — Minskande av PFAS i vår närmiljö av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1360 — En kvalitativ cancervård i framkant av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1362 — En stärkt psykisk hälsa i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1366 — Socialtjänsten av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1369 — Svenskt fiske och vattenbruk av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1372 — Marina miljöer och vattenvård av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1382 — Vattenförsörjning och vattenhantering av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1397 — Djurskydd av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1403 — En human sjukförsäkring med individen i centrum av Clara Aranda m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1412 — Jämställdhet och diskriminering av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1421 — Nationella minoriteter och urfolk i Sverige av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1436 — Rymdstrategi av Aron Emilsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1443 — Kvalitet och frihet för en högskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1445 — Forskning i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1451 — Svensk innovationskraft och immaterialrätt av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1452 — Stärkande av life science-sektorn inom näringslivet av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament