A new law that since July 2024 has facilitated information sharing between authorities and streamlined the fight against cheating, rule violations and crime in working life has produced results. This announced several authorities, including the Swedish Work Environment Authority and the Swedish Crime Authority, during a joint press conference on Monday.
In 2024, controls against working life crime increased and led to SEK 91 million being stopped from getting into the wrong hands.
Focus on risk industries and vulnerable workers
The efforts have been directed primarily to risk industries such as restaurant, trade, car repair shops and the construction sector.
– We see a clear effect of our coordinated work. Through more controls and stricter methods, we have been able to identify more crimes and ensure fair competition, says Arne Alfredsson, head of government cooperation at the Swedish Work Environment Authority, in a press release.
In 2024, the work was prioritized to identify vulnerable workers. It is often about foreign labor that does not have knowledge of Swedish laws and regulations. This work also continues in 2025.
– Individuals exposed to human trafficking or exploitation have been identified in a variety of industries, including restaurant, green nutrition and beauty and body care. We need to develop our methods in collaboration in order for people to have access to the support efforts they are entitled to, says Paulina Bolton, investigator at the Equality Authority.