Swedish labour market model and collective agreements

Here is information on what the Swedish labour market model is, links to collective agreements in various industries and contact information to responsible employer- and employee-representative organisations.

The Swedish labour market model – an interaction between legislation and collective agreements

The relationship between employers and employees and their organisations is regulated in Sweden in several laws. The labour market parties can make extensive deviations from the legislation through collective agreements. A collective agreement is a written agreement on terms of employment between an employer-representative organisation or an employer and a union organisation. This may also regulate other conditions between employers and employees. The National Mediation Office has more information on the Swedish model.

Collective agreements and contact information

As a posting employer, you can sign collective agreements with a Swedish employee-representative organisation or become a member of a Swedish employer-representative organisation and thereby become bound by a Swedish collective agreement. The employee-representative organisations have the right to take industrial action to get posting employers to sign collective agreements.

If you have questions about what wages or holiday applies for posted workers or the content of a specific collective agreement, please contact the respective organisation below.

Employer-representative organisations

Almega (employer-representative organisation for the Swedish service sector)

Almega is an employer-representative organisation that supports service companies in Sweden.

Grafiska företagen (The Swedish Graphic Industries' Federation)

Grafiska företagen is an employer and trade organisation for Swedish companies within the graphic and packaging industry, as well as other sectors associated with the graphic industry.

Gröna arbetsgivare (The Swedish Federation of Green Employers)

The Swedish Federation of Green Employers, is an organisation for employers in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, landscaping, golf and animal clinics.

Svensk Scenkonst (The Swedish Performing Arts Association)

Svensk Scenkonst in an employer-representative organisation within the fields of theatre, music, and dance.

Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner, SKR (The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions)

The Swedish association of local authorities and regions (SALAR) is an employer-representative organisation that represents and advocates local government in Sweden. All of Sweden's municipalities and regions are members of SALAR.

Employee-representative organisations

Akademikerförbundet SSR (The Union for Professionals SSR)

Akademikerförbundet SSR is a trade union for university graduates with a degree in social science, behavioral science or social work.

Akavia

Akavia is a trade union for business professionals and economists, lawyers, social scientists, IT-academics, HR-professionals, and communication specialists.

Byggnads (The Swedish Construction Workers' Association)

Svenska Byggnadsarbetareförbundet, Byggnads, is a trade union for construction workers.

DIK

DIK är is a trade union within the cultural, communications and creative sectors.

Elektrikerna (The Swedish Electricians' Association)

Elektrikerna is a trade union for employees within the electrical industry.

Finansförbundet (Union for the financial sector)

Finansförbundet is a trade union within the financial sector.

Fysioterapeuterna (The Swedish Association of Physiotherapists)

Fysioterapeuterna is a trade union for physiotherapists in Sweden.

GS

GS is a trade union within the forestry, woodworking and graphic industries.

Hotell- och restaurangfacket, HRF (The Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union)

Hotell- och restaurangfacket is a trade union for employees in hotels, restaurants and entertainment establishments.

IF Metall

IF Metall is a trade union within, among others, the following industries: plastic, medical products, construction material, steel, chemical and engineering industry.

Journalistförbundet (The Swedish Union of Journalists)

Journalistförbundet is a trade union which organises professionally active journalists.

Kyrkans Akademikerförbund

Kyrkans akademikerförbund is the union for academics working within the church of Sweden.

Kommunal (The Swedish Municipal Workers' Union)

Kommunal is a trade union with members in municipalities, regions, cooperatives, churches, agriculture and also in private companies.

Ledarna (The Managers)

Ledarna is a trade union for managers in Sweden.

Landsorganisationen, LO (The Swedish Trade Union Confederation)

LO is the central organisation for 14 affiliates which organise workers within both the private and the public sectors.

Livsmedelsarbetareförbundet, Livs (The Food Workers’ Union)

Livsmedelsarbetareförbundet is a trade union within the food industry.

Läkarförbundet (The Swedish Medical Association)

Läkarförbundet is a trade union for doctors.

Sveriges Lärare (Swedish Teachers’ Union)

Målarna (The Swedish Painters' Association)

Målarna is the union for building painters, material workers, iron painters, service workers, car painters, industrial painters and meters.

Pappers (Union for Paper Industry Workers)

Pappers is a trade union within the pulp and paper industry.

SACO-S and the Swedish Agency for Government Employers

An agreement exists between SACO-S and the Swedish Agency for Government Employers.

SEKO

SEKO is a trade union within the following sectors: civil, energy, defence, postal, telecommunications, traffic, road, railroad and sea.

SRAT (academics within health, communication and management)

SRAT is a trade union for university graduates or professionals with a college degree, specialists and managers in the fields of health, communication and management.

SRAT rail traffic

ST (The Union of Civil Servants)

ST is a trade union that solely focuses on organising employees within state agencies.

Sveriges Ingenjörer (The Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers)

Sveriges Ingenjörer is a trade union for graduate engineers.

Sveriges skolledarförbund (The Swedish Association of School Principals and Directors of Education)

Sveriges skolledarförbund is a trade union for managers within the field of education.

TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees)

TCO comprises 13 affiliated trade unions. Its members work in all parts of the labour market, for example in schools, healthcare, trade, the media, the police, manufacturing industries, IT and telecom.

Teaterförbundet (The Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film)

Teaterförbundet is a trade union within the performing arts and film industry.

Transportarbetareförbundet (The Swedish Transport Workers´ Union)

Svenska Transportarbetareförbundet is a trade union for workers in the following industries: lorries and trucking, warehouses, security, flight maintenance, newspaper distribution, waste and recycling, taxi, gas stations, petrol handling, tire shops and more.

TULL-KUST (The Swedish Customs and The Swedish Coast Guard)

TULL-KUST is a trade union for employees in The Swedish Customs and The Swedish Coast Guard.

Unionen (The Union)

Unionen is a trade union for white-collar workers in the private sector.