Background information

Trygghetsfonden (TSL) is a measure/instrument helping people who have been laid off to a new job. They help an average of 15,000 people a year to a new and often more qualified job.

The goal is to find a solution for privately employed workers who are laid off due to lack of work (and now COVID-19). The solution can mean a new job, start of own business or start studying. When needed, TSL can offer shorter vocational training or validation of vocational skills to increase employability. TSL facilitates structural change in the labor market and strengthens matching.

About 1,000 union ombudsmen, 4,000 - 5,000 employers, about 30 adjustment companies and about 40 employees at TSL annually ensure that the adjustment work is successful. A total of 70,000 employers and 2,000,000 employees are covered by TSL's adjustment solution.

In 2004, Swedish Trade Union Confederation LO and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise entered into an agreement in which the adjustment support became part of the collective agreement and Trygghetsfonden TSL was formed. TSL adjustment solution applies to all workplaces that have a collective agreement with an LO affiliated trade union.

Content of measure

"Competences for work" was a pilot project within TSL that was co-financed by the European Social Fund between 2017 and 2019. It is now part of the regular activities. "Competences for work" is for those who have been laid off and where a shorter vocational education or validation can facilitate the path to a new job.

TSL has built up a long-term model for managing education and selection of participants in adjustment support. The overall goals of Competences to work have been to investigate and analyse how TSL can strengthen the conversion process and create better opportunities to match participants 'skills and experiences with companies' demand. One goal has been to increase the proportion of TSL participants who feel they get a job.

Use of measure

A total of 70,000 employers and 2,000,000 employees are covered by TSL's adjustment solutions.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Does not apply to businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Trade unions Employers' organisations Company / Companies Public employment service	Employers organisation Trade union

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

In 2004, Swedish Trade Union Confederation LO and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise entered into an agreement in which the adjustment support became part of the collective agreement and Trygghetsfonden TSL was formed.

The conversion process:

1. Employers & unions apply for conversion directly from TSL via web, telephone or email.
2. TSL contacts employers and unions for more information.
3. TSL's adjustment adviser meets with the dissmissed person to assess the need for coaching or training.
4. A conversion company assigned by TSL takes over and implements decisions measures.
5. The system generates feedback to unions and companies about the results.

Views and reactions

The social partners views to the measure is positive. In March and April TSL was asked to up-scale their efforts and was given more resources to tackle the lay-offs during COVID-19.

Sources

• 17 September 2020: TSL (www.tsl.se)
• 17 September 2020: TSL Competences for work (www.tsl.se)