In November 2023, Sweden already increased the threshold from 13,000 kronor to 80 percent of the median salary. The government had proposed raising it further to 100 percent (about 35,600 kronor), but now seems less certain.
– The former threshold was only 13,000 kronor, and we've seen some tremendous problems with that – people being abused, Forssell told The Local during his visit to Skåne.
–There is now a discussion over where this new threshold should be, and we have not decided where it will be yet.
Forssell was in Skåne discussing ways to help foreign healthcare workers obtain medical licences. The healthcare sector has voiced concerns that the higher threshold makes hiring essential staff more difficult.
– We are trying to put more focus on the highly skilled segment, Forssell said.
The government has asked the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) to recommend which professions should be exempt from the threshold by August 1, suggesting the planned June 1 implementation will be delayed until autumn.
This follows comments from employment minister Mats Persson, who suggested the Liberals might support lowering the threshold.
The proposal has faced criticism from various groups, including the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, who argue it would make filling crucial positions nearly impossible across industries from healthcare to tech.
Forssell noted that many Swedes find it strange that foreign workers are brought in for jobs like "household cleaning" when over 400,000 unemployed people in Sweden could potentially fill these roles.
Forssell said the aim is to ensure work permits are issued for "real jobs" with appropriate salaries and benefits, though exactly where to set that salary threshold remains undecided.