Sweden can do better – and we know how
We demand more from Sweden! This is how IF Metall's 2026 election campaign can be summarised. Because it's time for a policy that cares about how workers are doing – and that appreciates all the efforts workers make for our country. Building cars, smelting steel, caring for our children and elderly – things that keep the wheels turning and Sweden running. That is why we demand: the abolition of the waiting period deduction, more industrial jobs, and a decent pension. On this page, you can read more about our demands in the 2026 election campaign.
We demand that the waiting period deduction be abolished
The waiting period deduction is one of the greatest injustices in the Swedish labour market. It acts as a penalty for ordinary people – industrial workers, shop assistants, construction workers, and preschool staff.
Did you know that...
- More than half of all workers have gone to work sick because of the waiting period deduction.
- A machine operator who is off sick on two occasions during a month loses SEK 2,916 with two qualifying periods.
- Sweden is the only country in the Nordic region that still has the qualifying period deduction – but the government and the Sweden Democrats have closed the investigation into abolishing the deduction.
- Read more about why we demand that the waiting period deduction be abolished
The waiting period deduction is one of the greatest injustices in the Swedish labour market. It acts as a penalty for ordinary people – industrial workers, nursing assistants, construction workers, and preschool staff. People who keep the wheels turning and Sweden running – every day.
For those who can work from home, catching a cold rarely means any financial loss. But for those who must be at work, the waiting period deduction becomes a cost for doing the right thing; staying home and not risking infecting coworkers or users. That's unreasonable. The waiting period deduction also means that pensions will be lower. The waiting period deduction is simply a matter of class distinction. And it hits us who support industry and welfare – those of us who can't take our work home with us.
During the pandemic, the Social Democrat government took this injustice seriously. The waiting period deduction was temporarily removed so that people could take responsibility for each other without having less to live on. However, the waiting period deduction was reinstated, and Sweden is now the only country in the Nordic region that penalises those who fall ill but are unable to work from home.
We can't have that. We demand more from Sweden – the waiting period deduction must be abolished.
We demand more industrial jobs
Industry creates prosperity. But the government is not investing in industry, the infrastructure is inadequate, electricity is too expensive and unreliable, the licensing processes are too unreliable, and municipalities where new industries are establishing themselves receive far too little support from the state. And if the industry is not growing in Sweden, it is growing in other countries.
Did you know that...
- Sweden is one of the EU countries with the weakest growth in recent years.
- 100,000 more people have become unemployed since the government took office.
- Interest in green industrial jobs is at an all-time high – yet the government has decided to cut climate subsidies to industry by 80 percent.
- Read more about why we demand more industrial jobs
Industrial jobs are crucial to Sweden's competitiveness, regional development, and welfare. They create jobs across the country and enable climate change mitigation, a stronger defense, and a society built on shared values.
But industrial jobs don't just stop on their own. Global competition for future investments is fierce. If Sweden does not offer long-term and reliable conditions, industry will grow elsewhere.
For industry to grow in Sweden, an active industrial policy is required. Functional infrastructure, fossil-free electricity at competitive prices, and industrial communities where people can live and thrive are crucial. When the state collects tax revenues from industry, it must also take responsibility for the social investments required locally.
Access to fossil-free electricity has long been a Swedish strength, but today the industry is being held back by a lack of capacity. Electrification requires more electricity throughout the country and an energy policy based on a systemic perspective, not technology choices.
Without the right skills, there will be no jobs in industry. A more accessible and flexible education system, with retraining, validation and lifelong learning, is crucial for both the security of industrial workers and the competitiveness of companies.
We demand a decent pension
After a long and hard working life, you should have a decent pension. Workers with worn-out bodies are denied sick pay and disability benefits. More and more people are being forced into early retirement – and are paying the price for a grueling working life with a lower pension.
Did you know that...
- Labourers live shorter lives than white-collar workers, and the difference increases as the gap widens.
- Every second industrial worker believes they will not be able to work until retirement age.
- It is cheaper to make the pension system fair for workers than what the government's tax cuts cost Sweden.
- Read more about why we demand a decent pension
A uniform retirement age unfairly penalises workers who are unable to work until retirement age. Many people are denied sickness benefits and disability benefits despite reduced working capacity and are therefore forced to take early retirement, resulting in a lower pension for the rest of their lives.
The disability pension for older workers (trygghetspensionen) was introduced to give more people the opportunity to receive sickness benefits at the end of their working lives. However, because it is linked to the sickness compensation system, it does not reach everyone who needs it.
That is why we want to reform the disability pension for older workers into a separate pension benefit. Instead of an age requirement linked to retirement age, entitlement should be based on a long working life, for example 40 years. Subsidised jobs should also be included, so that more workers are covered.
The assessment also needs to be more generous. The requirement that the work capacity must be permanently reduced should be replaced by a reduction of at least three to five years, and the current strict assessment of previous work should be eased.
A reformed disability pension for older workers would reach more workers, reduce the need for early retirement, and contribute to stronger and fairer pensions after a long working life.
Hard work should pay off
Spread the word! Download this pdf in English.
Hard work should pay off.pdf (1,6 MB)
Become a member – together we are stronger!
The more of us there are, the more weight our demands carry. We need politicians who listen to us, who pursue policies that benefit us workers.
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