[Sweden] The labour law deadlock threatening to bring down the government

Negotiations have resumed over a set of Swedish hiring and firing laws, with the hope that the government can avoid a political crisis by reaching an agreement with trade unions. Discussions underway this week are intended to break a deadlock in talks between trade unions and employer organisations. If an agreement cannot be reached the Swedish government risks collapse, after the Left Party and right-of-centre opposition parties both said they are prepared for a vote of no confidence.

Any changes made to labour law - whether through an agreement between trade unions and employers or made directly by the government if that proves impossible - will additionally have an impact on the rights of people working in Sweden. The law under review is the Employment Protection Act (Lagen om anställningsskydd), usually referred to as LAS. The Local examines both sides of the disagreement and looks at what comes next.

Negotiations have resumed over a set of Swedish hiring and firing laws, with the hope that the government can avoid a political crisis by reaching an agreement with trade unions. Discussions underway this week are intended to break a deadlock in talks between trade unions and employer organisations. If an agreement cannot be reached the Swedish government risks collapse, after the Left Party and right-of-centre opposition parties both said they are prepared for a vote of no confidence.

Any changes made to labour law - whether through an agreement between trade unions and employers or made directly by the government if that proves impossible - will additionally have an impact on the rights of people working in Sweden. The law under review is the Employment Protection Act (Lagen om anställningsskydd), usually referred to as LAS. The Local examines both sides of the disagreement and looks at what comes next.