Learn Swedish or risk dismissal

The government is to investigate a language requirement in care for the elderly. SD wants staff who do not pass a language test to risk dismissal.

– According to our approach, you are simply not employable, says SD spokeswoman Linda Lindberg.

The government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed in the Tidö Agreement to draw up a proposal for what a language requirement for care staff might look like.

The investigation, which will be carried out internally at the Ministry of Social Affairs, will be negotiated between the four parties and then run its course – so the final result is a long way off.

But SD is already giving notice of what they want to see as requirements for staff in elderly care.

– The primary input is to ensure that we receive good and safe care for our elderly. And it has unfortunately failed today in places due to shortcomings in the language, says Linda Lindberg, SD’s social policy spokesperson.

“Not employable”

Her input is that language requirements should apply both to new hires and to a certain extent for already employed.

– The input is first and foremost that the language requirements must be imposed on newly hired personnel. If you can’t handle it then you are simply not employable. Staff who are already employed, there we think that they should also be allowed to take a language test.

For those already employed, the requirement must have a valve, of up to one year, when you must be allowed to study Swedish on your own outside of working hours. At the same time, you keep your employment. Such training should not be paid for by the employer, according to Lindberg.

– We have seen that in other educations you can go and re-read and re-read for a very long time. And that doesn’t strengthen the purpose.

If you also do not pass the language test after this period, that should be grounds for dismissal.

– Yes, says Lindberg.

“Increases security”

TT: Couldn’t that be a little problematic in terms of employment law?

– It is very possible and this is something that the investigation must look at, so that things land correctly according to all the requirements that exist. But there must be a reasonable amount of time to learn, there must be support for learning parts that are missing, but there must also be a certain requirement.

The previous government, after pressure from the opposition at the time, tasked the National Board of Health and Welfare to draw up support for language assessment for employees in elderly care. That support was submitted to the government on Tuesday. The manual must be usable by managers, HR personnel or during recruitment.

There are some examples of what the staff should be able to do, such as describing how tooth brushing is done, explaining the various steps in a transfer or just small talk about the weather and leisure interests.

They must also be able to use the correct terminology in various areas, such as current medicines, meals or describe symptoms and write coherent texts for documentation of various kinds.

“I can’t imagine”

It is particularly important that assistant nurses and staff who work close to the users can read, write, understand and speak Swedish, says Linda Lindberg. Both the Inspectorate for Care and Care (IVO) and the Corona Commission have reported on a lack of Swedish in elderly care.

According to the Tidö Agreement, the language requirement shall apply in both private and public activities. Lindberg sees no risk that it would make it more difficult for the municipalities to find competent staff.

– No, I can’t imagine that. Because this also increases security and safety purely collegially in a workplace.

Facts

That’s what the Tidö Agreement says

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