New Migration Policy Triggers Crisis in Swedish Elderly Care Workforce
Sweden's new migration policy has led to a significant staffing crisis in elderly care, with many workers deported.
Key Points
- • 20 staff members at Harads elderly care facility have been deported due to new migration policies.
- • The facility has lost 25% of its workforce in two years, leading to crisis meetings among remaining staff.
- • Marie Mattson, a recruitment officer, expresses frustration over the deportation of established workers.
- • Norrbotten has the lowest unemployment rate in Sweden at 3.3%.
Sweden's recent migration policy changes have significantly disrupted the elderly care sector, resulting in the deportation of crucial staff and exacerbated workforce shortages. At the Harads elderly care facility, 20 staff members have been deported, reflecting a distressing trend where the facility has seen a 25% reduction in workforce over the last two years due to new regulations. This staffing crisis has prompted intense crisis meetings among the remaining employees, struggling to manage the increased workload with fewer hands.
Marie Mattson, a recruitment officer at Harads, expressed her deep frustration over the government's decision to deport experienced workers who have built their lives in Sweden. "We are losing essential personnel who have been integral to our community for years," she stated. Among those affected is Dure Dadacha, who faces deportation back to Ethiopia despite having won a court ruling allowing him to stay; he is still scheduled for removal in July under the new rules that came into effect on April 1, 2025.
Norrbotten, where Harads is located, currently has the lowest unemployment rate in Sweden at 3.3%, compared to the national average of 9.7%. This context highlights the critical need for staff in the elderly care sector, as facilities struggle to fill vacancies. Migration Minister Johan Forssell remarked that deported individuals can apply for work permits after leaving Sweden, with a processing time of about 16 days, but this does little to alleviate the immediate shortages being faced by facilities like Harads. In light of these challenges, Mattson has urged the government to facilitate the relocation of unemployed individuals from other parts of the country to northern Sweden to help remedy the workforce gaps, echoing previous migration patterns in Swedish labor markets.
As the elderly care system grapples with personnel shortages, questions remain about the government's future immigration strategies and their impact on societal welfare in Sweden.