OECD presents evaluation of Swedish labour migration reform
Tobias Billström and Stefano Scarpetta, Head of Employment Analysis and Policy Division, OECD. Photo: Government Offices
On 19 December, Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström received the OECD evaluation of Sweden's labour migration reform. The report shows that Sweden's system of labour migration appears to be the most open among all OECD countries and there are no indications that the Swedish labour migration system results in lower pay for the domestic labour force. The OECD also recommends that Sweden strengthen its mechanisms to ensure that employers follow the rules and live up to the terms of employment promised.
Government action plan against violent extremism
On 9 December, the minister responsible for democracy issues, Birgitta Ohlsson, presented the Government's action plan to protect democracy against violent extremism. The action plan consists of 15 measures and SEK 62 million is being set aside in 2012-2014 to strengthen preventive work.
"I am proud to present the first Swedish action plan against violent extremism. We must defend the cornerstones of democracy, including the rule of law, freedom of expression and other fundamental human rights," says Birgitta Ohlsson.
Refugee and statelessness conventions celebrate 60th and 50th anniversaries
Photo: Government Officies of Sweden
This year marks 60 years since the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and 50 years since the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness were signed. This is being commemorated with a high-level meeting in Geneva. Sweden is being represented by Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström
Martin Valfridsson new State Secretary at Ministry of Justice
The Government today appointed Martin Valfridsson as State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. The division of responsibilities between the two state secretaries at the Ministry of Justice means that State Secretary Magnus Graner will have main responsibility for civil law matters, while Mr Valfridsson will have main responsibility for criminal law matters.
New information material on information management in the justice system
The government authorities throughout the justice system chain are working extensively to reduce the amount of paperwork and change over to providing information electronically. This fact sheet gives a brief description of this work, its background and purpose.
New web page: Transport law
One important objective of transport law is that people who suffer an injury in connection with transport are to be entitled to satisfactory compensation. Another objective regarding goods transport is that conditions which are favourable to the Swedish business sector are to apply.
Budget for 2012
The national budget is divided into 27 expenditure areas. The Ministry of Justice is entirely responsible for expenditure area 4, The Judicial system, and expenditure area 8, Immigrants and refugees. The Ministry is also partly responsible for expenditure area 1, The Swedish political system, democracy policy, and partly for expenditure area 18, Planning, housing provision, construction and consumer policy.
More companies should offer community service for young offenders
More companies should offer community service for young offenders and the waiting times for young people sentenced to community service need to be shortened. These were the words of Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask when she visited Café Kummin on St Eriksgatan, Stockholm on Tuesday 16 August.
Petition presented to Beatrice Ask
On Wednesday 29 June, ECPAT and Bodyshop presented a petition with over 325 000 signatures to Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask. In connection with this they called for the Government to take the fight against child sex trafficking seriously. The 'Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People' campaign has been carried out in 48 countries.
Tobias Billström on visit to Libyan border
Tobias Billström visited Egypt from 2 to 5 May to gain an insight into the situation of refugees from Libya.
"The people I met who had fled the violence in Libya showed me the exposed conditions in which they are living, in the desert on the border. They told me about their need for support and assistance from the rest of the world," says Mr Billström.
