The short answer
Sweden opened an inquiry on 11 September 2026 into illegal labour used through subcontracting chains. It will assess wider criminal liability, a possible special charge for clients and business bans after serious or repeated violations. Nothing in the announcement creates those penalties today; the inquiry must report by 1 November 2027.
The gap the inquiry is trying to close
Long contracting chains can separate the company controlling a project from the company shown as the worker's formal employer.
The inquiry will ask whether responsibility should extend further up that chain when workers without legal permission are used.
Workers changing jobs should still begin with the conditions attached to their current work permit.
| In Swedish | What it means | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Vem är min arbetsgivare? | Who is my employer? | |
| Jag vill ha avtalet skriftligt. | I want the agreement in writing. |
Possible tools, not enacted penalties
The terms of reference mention broader criminal liability, a special charge for certain clients and business disqualification for serious cases.
The investigator must decide how such tools could work and draft provisions. A press release cannot impose them.
The deadline is 1 November 2027, after which any government bill and parliamentary decision would still have to follow.
Know which company employs you
A worker should be able to identify the legal entity paying wages, supervising work and reporting employment. The name on the site entrance may be a different company.
Keep the contract, shift records, payslips, supervisor details and evidence of hours. Do not hand an original identity document to a labour intermediary.
Ask whether the role is protected by a collective agreement.
If the arrangement does not add up
Request the employer name, organisation number and time-reporting method in writing.
When pay, threats or residence status are involved, contact a union, the relevant authority or legal adviser promptly instead of signing new papers under pressure.
For your next step, check both YH provider oversight and how to request professional interpreting. The SvenskaApp Work unit practises questions that make vague arrangements harder to hide.
Sources
Rules and processing times change. Check the official page for your own case before acting on anything here.
Questions people ask
- Are new penalties already in force?
- No. The inquiry is examining options and will report by November 2027.
- Who may face wider responsibility?
- The inquiry considers companies and clients higher in a contracting chain, not only the direct employer.
- What records should a worker retain?
- Keep the contract, payslips, hours, the employer's legal identity and significant messages.
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