V wants most workers on 80% unemployment benefit

The Left Party wants 80% of workers to receive 80% of their previous wage if they lose their jobs, with no step-down during the benefit period.

Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar and economic-policy spokesperson Ida Gabrielsson presented the proposal on Tuesday. It would raise the benefit ceiling and basic amount, link them to wage growth and keep the 80% rate through both unemployment insurance and activity support.

The party also wants more labour-market training and retraining, and would restore a qualification route for students. These are election proposals, not current law. The announcement gives no total cost or financing plan.

Under Sweden's current system, the highest benefit is 80% of SEK 34,000 a month, or SEK 27,200 before tax. That rate is available after at least 12 months of fund membership. It falls by 10 percentage points after 100 benefit days and by another five after 200 days.

The proposal would therefore remove the time-based reductions for eligible recipients and broaden how many workers reach the top replacement rate. V did not publish a new ceiling in kronor.

The policy split sharpened on the same day. The Moderate Party's new election manifesto calls for faster benefit reductions, tougher requirements for unemployed people to move for work and removal of the tax deduction for unemployment-fund fees.

V's own release instead highlights the Centre Party, which it says would cut the ceiling and accelerate reductions. No direct response to Tuesday's proposal was found from M or C before the 17:30 edition cutoff.

DailySweden

DailySweden's desk of editors, reporters, researchers and investigative journalists. We bring readers factual, truthful and objective reporting on the issues that matter to them.

Contact the editorial desk ›