Why does it take so long to get documents from the Swedish Migration Agency?

One of our member companies, a telecommunications infrastructure operator, has gone out of its way to both facilitate integration and fill skills gaps by employing four asylum seekers. The practical challenges were perhaps not unexpected, but one that really makes you wonder why it should take so long for the Swedish Migration Agency to send copies of ID documents to asylum seekers, which are essential for their jobs.

Together with the company, I am compiling a checklist for employers who hire asylum seekers, where - unfortunately - one of the points is "Do not expect any practical help from the Migration Agency or the Public Employment Service". We hope that representatives from both the Swedish Migration Agency and the Swedish Public Employment Service can answer the following questions raised by the company:

"A very important point that should not be underestimated is the practical inconvenience of employees without social security numbers and ID documents.

The ID documents remain with the Migration Agency (MV) until the residence permit is granted. To circumvent this, MV must certify a copy of their ID documents, but this takes a long time for our guys to get out. In practical terms, this means that they are not allowed to trade against our company accounts at various retailers of materials and components.

Additional challenges include housing. Note that many come from asylum accommodation and have to find their own place. This is not easy in either Stockholm, Sundsvall or Luleå, and it affects us as employers in both the short and long term. So make sure that the housing issue is resolved before recruitment takes place or be prepared to give them a lot of support. The housing shortage is great throughout Sweden.

Then I have some questions about SFI. What rights do they have to take SFI courses once they are employed?"

...

Seriously: should it take more than a few minutes to copy documents, authenticate them and put them in the drawer? Unfortunately, keeping passports and other ID documents inaccessible to their owners brings to mind the situation of migrant workers in other parts of the world where human rights are not highly valued.

However, I end on a positive note, with the following quote from the company contact about the four new employees: "Otherwise, it's working great. Good technicians, but we need to get the Swedish up to speed."