Sweden's Centre Party Promises to Scrap Work Permit Salary Threshold

International workers in Sweden could soon see work permit salary thresholds abolished. Sweden's Centre Party promised to scrap the requirement if it takes power. The party would return to rules requiring minimum salaries under collective agreements.

Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist spoke at a press conference in Stockholm. She said labour migration in Sweden halved between 2023 and 2025. This policy change reduced Sweden's GDP by 30 billion Swedish kronor. It also cost the Swedish government 10 billion kronor in tax revenue.

Thand Ringqvist blamed the current Tidö government and the Swedish Democrats. She noted that foreign talent retention rankings fell significantly over four years. Sweden dropped from second to sixth place in IMD World Talent Rankings. Its ability to retain foreign talent dropped from 11th to 21st place.

Statistics show that foreign workers with university degrees also nearly halved. Only one third of international master's students currently stay in Sweden. Local business owners report severe difficulties in recruiting international skilled workers. Scrapping the threshold would be a priority decision for a centrist government.