Sweden's Riksdag concluded a busy two-day legislative sprint on February 17–18 with five committee reports spanning employer payroll relief, labour immigration policy, explosives control, cross-border cash monitoring and comprehensive data protection reform at key government agencies. Collectively, these reports underscore the centre-right coalition's strategy of combining economic stimulus with tighter security controls as it positions itself for the September 2026 election.
Economic Stimulus: Youth Employment Incentives
The Social Insurance Committee (SfU) report Bet. 2025/26:SfU11 proposes temporarily reduced employer contributions for workers aged 19–23. The measure targets Sweden's stubbornly high youth unemployment rate, currently at 20.2% according to Statistics Sweden, by lowering the cost of hiring younger workers. If enacted, the relief would run from July 2026 through December 2028, representing a fiscal commitment of approximately SEK 4.2 billion.
Critics from the left-wing opposition argue the policy amounts to a subsidy for employers who would hire young people regardless, pointing to similar programmes in Denmark and the Netherlands that showed limited additionality. The government counters that the Swedish labour market's rigid wage structure makes targeted cost reductions more effective than in comparator countries.
Labour Immigration: Balancing Openness and Control
The companion SfU report Bet. 2025/26:SfU15 addresses labour immigration, a politically charged topic that has defined Swedish political discourse since 2022. The report recommends stricter qualification requirements and enhanced employer verification, while maintaining pathways for skilled workers in shortage occupations.
The Sweden Democrats (SD), whose support underpins the minority government, have pushed for more restrictive measures. The committee's compromise language suggests the coalition has found a middle ground—tighter enforcement without shutting the door on the high-skilled immigration that Swedish tech and healthcare sectors depend upon.
Security: Explosives and Cash Controls
Two reports address the government's expanding security apparatus. The Defence Committee (FöU) report Bet. 2025/26:FöU13 on explosive goods proposes enhanced inspection powers and stricter licensing requirements, responding to a wave of bombings linked to organised crime that has shaken public confidence.
Meanwhile, the Tax Committee (SkU) report Bet. 2025/26:SkU19 on cash controls at internal borders represents Sweden's implementation of EU anti-money laundering directives. The proposal would require declaration of cash movements exceeding EUR 10,000 at internal Schengen borders, a significant step for a country that has long prided itself on passport-free Nordic travel.
Data Protection: Modernising Government Surveillance Powers
Perhaps the most consequential of the week's reports is Bet. 2025/26:SkU10, which proposes a comprehensive overhaul of data protection frameworks at the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), Customs (Tullverket) and the Enforcement Authority (Kronofogdemyndigheten). The reform would enable broader data sharing between agencies while introducing new safeguards, including mandatory impact assessments and independent oversight mechanisms.
Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the potential for mission creep, noting that expanded data-sharing powers at tax and customs authorities have historically been difficult to constrain once granted. The committee's report attempts to balance operational effectiveness with privacy protections, though whether the safeguards prove adequate will likely become a test case for Sweden's evolving approach to digital governance.
What to Watch
- Chamber votes: The employer contributions and labour immigration reports are expected to reach the chamber floor by mid-March, with potential amendments from opposition parties.
- Coalition dynamics: The Sweden Democrats' leverage on immigration policy versus the Liberals' insistence on maintaining skilled worker pathways creates ongoing tension within the governing arrangement.
- EU alignment: Both the cash controls and data protection proposals must be assessed for compatibility with evolving EU frameworks, particularly the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) regulations taking effect in 2027.
- Election positioning: With the 2026 election approaching, these reports reveal the government's attempt to build a legislative record of concrete reforms across economic, security and governance domains.