New rules for recruiting highly skilled workers
The governmentGovernment proposes new rules to recruit highly skilled labor under the EU:s blue card directive. The proposal lowers both the salary requirements and the length of service requirement. It is welcome while at the same time TechSweden wants to see more measures to ensure the recruitment of highly skilled labor migration.
The Government has recently submitted a legislative consultation paper with proposals that will improve the ability to attract highly skilled labor to Sweden. The proposal implements the so-called Blue Card Directive from the EU, which replaces the 2009 Blue Card Directive.
As part of the proposal, the government is proposing to lower the salary threshold for who can receive an EU Blue Card. In addition, it is proposed to lower the length of employment requirement from 12 months to 6 months, making it easier for people to qualify for the Blue Card.
In brief, it can be noted that the Government has partially taken on board the comments of the consultation bodies on adjusting the salary threshold for those entitled to receive the EU Blue Card. In addition, the government proposes to change the current requirement for employment from at least twelve to at least six months for an EU Blue Card to be granted, which is positive.
However, the Government has chosen not to legislate on processing times on the grounds that the Swedish Migration Agency has introduced a new way of sorting applications by profession and industry, whereby complete applications for highly skilled labor are processed within a certain time, a system that also includes this type of residence and work permit.
- "TechSverige, together with other organizations, has pushed the issue of shorter processing times, and there has been a positive shift in the direction of shorter processing times, but it is crucial for the industry that this trend is maintained," says Pia Högset, industry policy expert at TechSverige.
The proposal is for the new rules to enter into force by the end of 2025.
Read more:
Implementation of the new Blue Card Directive: https://regeringen.se/rattsliga-dokument/lagradsremiss/2024/08/genomforande-av-det-nya-blakortsdirektivet/