Background information

The Swedish government and authorities have taken a series of measures to help Ukrainian refugees find work. Among them are language training, additional vocational education and an introduction to Swedish society and culture. Via the EU-initiative Care, membership countries are permitted to redistribute resources from several EU-funds, such as the European Social Fund (ESF), and use these to aid refugees. This facilitates necessary help initiatives such as the building of shelters or securing sanitation, but also labour market measures.

Since the EU-mechanism for temporary protection under the Directive on Temporary Protection 2001/55/EC was activated, Ukrainian refugees have the right to work during their stay in an EU-country.

Content of measure

The Swedish government is to redistribute SEK 885 million (€83 million) of ESF-funds to help Ukrainian refugees find work. The funds are what remains from the national ESF-program period of 2014-2020. Local and regional agencies, enterprises and civic organisations will all be able to apply for funding to the national ESF-council and the suggested using is for job matching measures, language training or vocational education. The council should especially consider projects related to industrial development in northern Sweden. Eligible projects must be on either a national or regional level. The expected results are that an increasing number of Ukrainians are participating in measures that would assist their entry to the Swedish labour market.

The redistribution of the funds has to be be approved by the European Commission.

Use of measure

Applying for the funds has been possible since the beginning of June. It is however not at this stage known how many applications that have been granted and how much of the funds that remain. The ESF-council has so far not given any updates on the number or size of applications.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The measure is outside social partner main domain.

Views and reactions

The measure is outside social partner main domain.

Sources

• 02 June 2022: More Ukrainians to get into work (Fler ukrainare ska kunna komma i arbete) (www.regeringen.se)