I have been offered a job in Sweden and we are in contract negotiations, what needs to be in it?
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In almost all workplaces conditions are set by collective bargaining between trade unions and employers and certain aspects are also regulated by law. This means that the individual contract is in most cases not very detailed. An employment contract often carries little more information than particulars of the parties, duration of employment and salary. If the employer is not party to any collective agreement which is very rare, the situation is often more insecure for the employee, but there are still laws guaranteeing certain rights, like paid vacation and sick leave. The majority of the workforce are members of trade unions. There are several unions, for different occupations, but almost all are in one of three large confederations: LO (steel workers, painters, assistant nurses etc), TCO (journalists, registered nurses, musicians, civil servants etc) or SACO (dentists, architects, lawyers etc). It is highly recommended to contact the trade union for your occupation before signing any contract. They can tell if the employer is party to any collective agreement and if so giving you the details as well as tell you what salary to expect. They can provide you with useful information and assist you in any conflict with the employer. Joining the trade union is often a very good idea. You may not be covered by public medical and social insurance; you should inquire about this at Försäkringskassan (the Swedish Social Insurance Agency). You will not be able to get medical insurance from your employer. If you are an American citizen you will normally need a work permit before going to Sweden. You should apply for that a Swedish consulate and enclose a formal employment offer where the employer clearly states the conditions including salary and also shows that persons not requiring a work permit have been able to apply and that the trade union believe the conditions to be at least equal to what is normal in Sweden. As work permits can be hard to get and unemployment is very high in many sectors it is vital that you make sure that this offer is legitimate. If in any doubt the trade union can help you out.
