A number of municipalities are at risk of breaking the new 24-hour rest rules that will be introduced this autumn. This is shown by TV4 Nyheterna’s survey among the country’s municipal councillors.
In Trelleborg, the rescue service must recruit six firefighters to meet the requirements.
– What worries me is that we end up in a situation where we are unable to cope with the operational capability, says Magnus Strid, rescue manager in Trelleborg.
At least eleven hours of continuous 24-hour rest between work shifts is the rule that comes into effect from 1 October this year for employees, including in municipalities.
But the new rule creates serious scheduling problems in many of the country’s municipalities.
In TV4 Nyheterna’s survey, 71 percent of municipal councillors, 99 out of 140 respondents, say that staffing is becoming more difficult.
Among other things in Trelleborg, where they believe that there is too little time to have time to change.
– It is clear that it causes it for us. This results in additional costs for the municipality. I think the rules are not that stupid, but it takes longer to change than the time we have taken so far, says Ann Kajson Carlqvist (M), chairman of the municipal board in Trelleborg.
Many people see a risk of breaking the rules
In the survey, 22 percent of the municipal councilors, 31 out of 140, answer that they see a risk of being forced to break the new rules after 1 October.
The municipal union is critical and believes that the rules must be followed.
– It goes without saying that it cannot be done without increasing the staffing, so the employer must take responsibility so that you can get these rules in, which are actually there to get more recovery. If you see that it won’t work, then you have to make a plan for it and act, says Malin Ragnegård, chairman Kommunal.
Six firefighters are missing in Trelleborg
At the rescue service in Trelleborg, the firefighters work around the clock, and with the new 24-hour rest rules, the current schedule will not work.
– This obviously means problems. We want to have a rescue service that works 24 hours every day of the year without problems and to do that we have to recruit about six people, says Magnus Strid, rescue manager in Trelleborg.
The rescue service will have a little longer to respond. On February 1, it should be ready, but in Trelleborg you will have to apply for a dispensation and it will take some time before the 24-hour rest rules can be fully followed.
– My estimate is one to two years ahead, says Magnus Strid, rescue manager in Trelleborg.