‘The minimum wage proposal is just one of the threats’

The European Parliament recently approved new labour migration rules. What do they entail?

– My initiative calling for a new form of labour migration in Europe provides better opportunities for companies to attract third-country workers and stop cases of fraud. Europe faces huge demographic and economic challenges where we are competing for skills with other parts of the world. Companies are crying out for skilled workers who are needed to maintain our prosperity. For instance, a matching platform will make it easier for EU-based employers and non-EU applicants to find each other. Bureaucracy will also be reduced, and it will be easier to recognise professional qualifications.

At what stage are the negotiations on minimum wages in the EU and how do you see things developing?

– Final negotiations on this issue are going on right now between the three EU institutions: the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament. France has made it clear that this issue will have the highest priority when it takes over the presidency of the Council in January 2022. That is why I believe the tempo will be fast in order to find an acceptable compromise. The Centre Party and I have actively opposed the dangerous parts of this legislation. We must stop the EU from interfering with the Swedish collective bargaining model, and in the current negotiations, the Government must ensure that also in future Swedish wages are set in Sweden.

Which EU social issues do you intend to keep a special eye on in future?

– The EU must not meddle with member states’ labour market and welfare systems. The EU Treaty does not support such action, and yet the legislative tempo continues at a fast pace. The proposal on binding wage transparency measures is especially problematic because it undermines the parties’ role in the labour market. At the beginning of December, a recommendation on individual learning accounts and a binding directive on the working conditions of platform workers was also presented. From a Swedish standpoint, it is important that we are involved from the outset, otherwise these proposals risk causing even more problems for our companies and employees.

Abir Al-Sahlani was interviewed by Matilda Kylefors, Researcher at New Republic. ‘Three Quick Questions…’ is a series of interviews conducted by New Republic.