Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 69 measures in Sweden in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future with 27 cases (39%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Nils Brandsma (Oxford Research) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
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16 April 2020 Updated |
Removal of income ceiling for student aid to facilitate work in essential services
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
23 June 2022 Updated |
The Public Employment Service's forecast ('the occupational compass')
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
23 June 2022 |
Labour consultant
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Company practices |
|
30 October 2020 |
Elite Hotels offer subsidised stays for people in risk groups and health care staff
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
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13 April 2020 |
Temporary reduction of employers' social security contributions
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Tax cuts and deferrals for companies
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Rent support for companies in vulnerable sectors
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
20 April 2020 Updated |
Increased loan facilities and credit guarantees for Swedish businesses
Access to finance |
07 October 2020 Updated |
Reorientation support for companies
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
06 November 2020 Updated |
Turnover-based support for sole traders
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
18 January 2021 Updated |
Event support
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
14 April 2021 Updated |
Turnover-based support for trading companies
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
11 July 2022 Updated |
The Business Emergency
Rescue procedures in case of insolvency or adaptation of insolvency regulation |
08 June 2023 |
Support for electricity costs for companies
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
20 May 2022 |
Financial support for agricultural (pigs, poultry, greenhouses) companies
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
05 September 2023 |
Economic aid for agricultural companies affected by extreme weather
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
13 April 2020 Updated |
Short-time work allowance
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Wage Guarantee Act
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Short-time work allowance
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
23 June 2022 Updated |
Job security councils
Matching/networking |
23 June 2022 |
ALMI Företagspartner business enterprise
Change of production/Innovation |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Implementation of a Program for SMEs robotisation
Change of production/Innovation |
31 October 2022 Updated |
Ban on new coal mining, natural gas and oil extraction projects
Change of production/Innovation |
Company practices |
|
30 October 2020 |
Essity changes core business to manufacture protective masks
Change of production/Innovation |
30 October 2020 |
Absolut Vodka's change in business activity to produce disinfection
Change of production/Innovation |
Bipartite collective agreements |
|
---|---|
29 October 2020 |
KTH: Increased support calls to occupational health providers
Occupational health and safety |
Company practices |
|
29 October 2020 |
KTH:s remote working rules and return to work
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
30 October 2020 |
SportAdmin offers digital gym training twice a week
Well-being of workers |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
17 September 2020 |
Social partners-run insurance funds research on how COVID-19 affects the work environment, health and leadership
Well-being of workers |
17 September 2020 |
Practical support for employers and employee representatives to ensure a healthy working life
Well-being of workers |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
13 April 2020 Updated |
Temporary reinforcement of unemployment insurance
Income support for unemployed |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Central government assumes sick pay responsibility
Paid sick leave |
13 April 2020 Updated |
'Disease carriers allowance' extended to high-risk groups
Paid sick leave |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Sick pay standard reduction suspended - Encouraging employees to stay home
Paid sick leave |
15 April 2020 Updated |
Doctor's certificate no longer mandatory during the first two weeks of sick leave
Paid sick leave |
13 July 2020 Updated |
Sickness compensation for COVID-19 risk groups can be paid preventively
Paid sick leave |
07 October 2020 Updated |
Self-employed can pause their business in order to receive unemployment insurance
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
18 January 2021 Updated |
Temporary parental allowance due to COVID-19
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
22 September 2021 Updated |
Temporarily increased housing allowance for families with children
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
19 May 2022 |
Exemptions in building regulations to facilitate temporary housing for refugees
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
20 May 2022 |
Temporary protection extended to persons arriving before the invasion
Other humanitarian measures |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
06 September 2023 |
Large Swedish Commitment to Climate Change Adaption
Other humanitarian measures |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
16 April 2020 Updated |
More active labour market policy
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
29 February 2024 |
Structuring high school programmes in line with labour market
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
02 November 2023 |
New regulation about state support for the installation of charging-stations
Sustainable mobility |
06 September 2023 |
New subsidy for energy-optimisation in smaller houses
Retrofitting buildings |
08 June 2023 |
Gas price support for households in southwestern Sweden
Support for energy bills |
01 March 2023 Updated |
Pausing the reduction obligation of transport fuel greenhouse gas emissions
Support for fuel expenses |
01 March 2023 |
Increased travel deduction for work-related travel
Support for fuel expenses |
14 September 2022 |
Improved rules for climate bonus for electric vehicles
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
01 March 2024 |
More vocational education programmes leading to work
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
14 September 2022 |
Mandate to authorities to take energy saving measures
Support for energy bills |
16 April 2020 |
More places and more distance learning at higher education institutions for unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
16 April 2020 Updated |
More opportunities for VET
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Lower tax on diesel for companies in forestry, agriculture and aquaculture
Support for fuel expenses |
26 April 2021 |
Lowered payroll taxes for young people
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Support for starting a business
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
18 January 2021 |
Financial compensation for short-time workers' training
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Tripartite agreements |
|
01 March 2023 |
Establishment jobs: labour market integration
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
16 September 2020 |
Trygghetsfonden - Competences for work
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
06 September 2023 |
A clear drive for energy-planning and strengthening security of supply
Financing the green transition |
06 September 2023 |
Temporary budget increase for re-education assistance
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
09 September 2022 Updated |
High-cost protection for electricity prices
Support for energy bills |
16 January 2022 |
Governmental investments in green jobs
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Additional support for agricultural and fishery enterprises
Support for fuel expenses |
09 September 2022 Updated |
European Social Fund to help Ukrainian refugees find employment
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
09 September 2022 |
Additional funding for language training program for refugees
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
01 March 2023 |
Switch to Sweden: matching international talent
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
07 March 2024 |
Grants for energy efficiency in houses
Retrofitting buildings |
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.