Following the general election held on 15 September 2002, the minority Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokratiska Arbetarepartiet, SAP) government led by Prime Minister Göran Persson returned to power, again governing with cooperation from the Left Party (Vänsterpartiet) and the Green Party (Miljöpartiet de Gröna) (SE0210102F [1]).[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/new-government-sets-out-priorities
In October 2002, Hans Karlsson, a former official of the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), was appointed to the new position of Minister for Working Life issues in the Social Democrat government formed after the general election in September. One of the new Minister's main tasks will be to tackle Sweden's high rate of sickness absence.
Following the general election held on 15 September 2002, the minority Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokratiska Arbetarepartiet, SAP) government led by Prime Minister Göran Persson returned to power, again governing with cooperation from the Left Party (Vänsterpartiet) and the Green Party (Miljöpartiet de Gröna) (SE0210102F).
On 21 October 2002, Prime Minister Persson presented his new cabinet. With eight Ministers having left the old cabinet earlier in the autumn - including the influential Minister of Industry, Employment and Communications, Björn Rosengren - the new administration contains many 'fresh faces', who have not previously held office at this level.
The government's work in the employment and social field will focus on two main issues: the current high rate of sickness absence (SE0202103N) and the integration of immigrants. In the last government, the Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications (Näringsdepartementet) was responsible for both integration and equal opportunity issues. Integration issues will now fall under the Ministry of Justice and Minister Mona Sahlin, who also will be responsible for matters relating to 'democracy'. Equal opportunity matters are now the responsibility of Minister (and Deputy Prime Minister) Margareta Winberg at the Prime Minister's Office. The placing of the equal opportunities in such a central position is generally seen as a mark of the importance it is afforded.
The new Minister in overall charge of the Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications is Leif Pagrotsky, formerly Minister at the Foreign Office with responsibility for commerce and export, who brings these areas of responsibility with him. One of his two colleagues at the Ministry will be Ulrica Messing, the new Minister for Infrastructure. Hans Karlsson, who once worked as a collective bargaining secretary at the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisationen, LO) is the new Minister for Working Life. according to a press release from the Prime Minister, one of Mr Karlsson's key tasks 'will be to tackle the high sickness rates. All issues relating to working life - labour market policy, working environment issues, labour legislation, unemployment benefits - will be brought together under the authority of a single Minister. Furthermore, the responsibility for sickness insurance and work injury insurance will be transferred to the Minister of Industry, Employment and Communications.'
Sickness and work injury insurance formerly fell under the the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. Two new Ministers have been added to this Ministry, the Minister for Children and Families, Berit Andnor, and the Minister for Public Health and Social Services, Morgan Johansson, who will focus on drug abuse.
A new ministerial position has been created in the Ministry of Finance. The new Minister is Gunnar Lund, formerly Sweden's ambassador to the EU, and his main responsibility will be issues related to Sweden's possible future entry into the third stage of EU Economic and Monetary Union.
The new cabinet contains of 10 female Ministers and 12 male Ministers, including the Prime Minister.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2002), New Minister for Working Life appointed, article.
