On 1 November, the rules for labor immigration are tightened for people from countries outside the EU.
Today, eleven people on work permits work at the nursing home in Harads outside Boden.
– Since we have so many on work permits, they will destroy our business. We will not have staff. It is difficult to recruit for Harads, Harads is not big, says staff recruiter Marie Mattsson.
The new tightened rules regarding support requirements for labor immigrants mean that a salary of at least 80 percent of the median salary, in Sweden, is required in order to be granted a work permit. Today, this corresponds to a salary of just over SEK 27,300, a sum that exceeds the collective agreements in many areas.
The couple Ramil and Aysel from Azerbaijan came to Harads, a village of 500 inhabitants, six years ago. They learned Swedish on their own and both work today as care assistants at the old people’s home in the village. They earn SEK 22,000 each month and have also started training to become assistant nurses.
– We read children’s books, we watched films. We read all the time. I thought that if we live in Sweden, we must speak Swedish. I learned and after 4-5 months I started working, says father of two Ramil Mammadov.
– We think we are needed here, we thrive here and we have created a life here. We thought we had succeeded, that we had the chance, but no, he continues.
How are you?
– I feel so bad, not just me, the whole family, says Aysel Mammadova.
Dreaming of a house
Personnel recruiter Marie Mattson is critical of the new rules and believes that the nursing home in Harads must become an exception.
– This is a shortcoming. I think it goes without saying that it would be the exception. These are people who pay taxes, support themselves and are needed, above all, she says.
Ramil and Aysel have two children together and their biggest dream is to stay in Harads.
– We have built a life here, six years is not a short time. We have jobs, friends and the children enjoy school and with their friends. We can’t imagine leaving Harads. We have saved money and we want to buy a house here, says Ramil.