{"podcast":{"title":"Sweden in Focus","slug":"sweden-in-focus-3984454","podcast_index_feed_id":3984454,"rss_url":"https://access.acast.com/rss/77ca3392-3d6f-434f-8821-6472a6c25d8d","website_url":"https://shows.acast.com/sweden-in-focus/episodes/nato-in-sight-book-tips-swedish-work-permits","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/60f989d37b49f291bd61251a/show-cover.png","author":"O'Mahony Paul","episode_count":286,"summary":"In this episode of Sweden in Focus Extra we chat about the government's new plans to tighten labour migration with Catharina Bildt Grape, an expert on migration, integration and labour market issues at the Swedish Federation of Business Owners (Företagarna). Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by Catharina Bildt Grape to talk about plans to raise the income requirement for work permit applicants to more than 34,000 kronor per month. They discuss: How companies are reacting to the plans How Företagarna intends to respond Was the old system too liberal? How will the new three-stage process work? The employment service will draw up a list of professions that should be exempted; the Migration Agency will change the lists if necessary; the government gives final approval. How wide-ranging will the exemptions be? How likely is it that groups like Företagarna can convince the government to change its plans? What impact will the proposed system have on Sweden's competitiveness? DON'T MISS: Everything you need to know about Sweden's plans for tougher work permit rules","last_synced_at":"2026-07-19T02:20:47.519475+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sweden-in-focus-3984454"},"episode":{"title":"What happens if Sweden Democrats get top jobs in next government?","slug":"what-happens-if-sweden-democrats-get-top-jobs-in-next-government","published_at":"2026-05-29T07:36:09+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sweden-in-focus-3984454/what-happens-if-sweden-democrats-get-top-jobs-in-next-government","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sweden-in-focus-3984454","url":"https://shows.acast.com/sweden-in-focus/episodes/what-if-sweden-democrats-get-top-jobs-in-next-govern","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/sweden-in-focus/e/6a1941e9847a83997ee7ac90/media.mp3?tk=eyJ0ayI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJhZHMiOnRydWUsInNwb25zIjp0cnVlLCJzdGF0dXMiOiJwcml2YXRlIn0=&sig=WynNz7RA7a54vZqvWdEsphRid0rJTSz-oKYqj2jK1dA","summary":"This week we are delving into the sort of jobs the Sweden Democrats could get if they join the government after the election. With new rules for work permits coming in next week, we look at an unexpectedly short list of exempted professions.  Is Sweden’s new status as a ‘smoke-free country’ really just be due to tobacco taxes and good public health campaigns? Why is the government proposing to halve the cost of a monthly card for regional public transport from July 1st until the end of the year?  And we look at how end-of-term gifts to Swedish teachers have become so extravagant in some cases that a few Swedish councils have now banned the practice altogether. Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren.  Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Politics Sweden Democrats aim for half of cabinet seats in a right-wing government Sweden to cut monthly public transport tickets by 50 percent in all regions Health 'Incredible' milestone reached as Sweden becomes a smoke-free country Immigration 'It's a gut punch': Time running out for 100,000 applicants as Sweden's citizenship deadline nears What Sweden's new higher salary threshold means for work permit applicants Schools Swedish municipalities (at least some) ban end-of-term gifts for teachers Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday. Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+ For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+ For new members: Get Membership+  Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock .…","meta_description":"This week we are delving into the sort of jobs the Sweden Democrats could get if they join the government after the election. With new rules for work perm…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2618,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sweden-in-focus-3984454/episodes/what-happens-if-sweden-democrats-get-top-jobs-in-next-government/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sweden-in-focus-3984454/what-happens-if-sweden-democrats-get-top-jobs-in-next-government.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}