The Social Democratic Party has announced plans to investigate implementing a national Swedish language requirement for the entire welfare sector, according to reports from Swedish media outlets. The party's integration policy spokesperson, Lawen Redar, stated at a press conference that current language training requirements in elderly care introduced by the government this year are good but insufficient.
"All personnel who work close to people must be strengthened in the Swedish language," Redar said during the press briefing. According to the proposal, which the Social Democrats want to have investigated, the state would take responsibility for designing language tests for respective areas within the welfare sector, covering everything from leisure staff to healthcare workers.
All personnel who work close to people must be strengthened in the Swedish language
Redar described it as necessary to introduce language requirements in preschools "already now," stating that this has already been thoroughly investigated. "All preschools must work with the Swedish language. If you already work in a preschool, you should receive language-promoting interventions during working hours," she added.
The proposal suggests that those who fail the language tests may need to be "sent back to SFI" (Swedish for Immigrants courses). The Social Democrats' plan represents a significant expansion of language requirements beyond the current government's focus on elderly care.
All preschools must work with the Swedish language. If you already work in a preschool, you should receive language-promoting interventions during working hours