Sweden: New measures to strengthen care of the elderly and health care during the COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by siha on Thu, 06/18/2020 - 14:40
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Government.se (12.05.2020)  The COVID-19 pandemic has affected an already strained staffing situation for health and social care, not least in care of the elderly. To improve the supply of staff and make it more attractive to seek jobs in care of the elderly, a boost for care of the elderly is being implemented that means that employees in care of the elderly will be offered paid education and training during working hours. Central government will finance the costs for the time the employee is absent due to studies. The initiative comprises SEK 2.2 billion in 2020 and 2021.

measures summary

Employees in care of the elderly will be offered paid education and training during working hours. Central government will finance the costs for the time the employee is absent due to studies. The initiative comprises SEK 2.2 billion in 2020 and 2021.

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As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party are today presenting new measures. A boost for care of the elderly is being implemented that means that employees in care of the elderly will be offered paid education and training during working hours. This will lead to more permanent positions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected an already strained staffing situation for health and social care, not least in care of the elderly. At the same time, employment has declined in many other sectors as a result of redundancy notices and job cuts. To improve the supply of staff and make it more attractive to seek jobs in care of the elderly, a boost for care of the elderly is being implemented that means that employees in care of the elderly will be offered paid education and training during working hours.

For those who require it, it will be possible to combine employment with training to become nursing assistants or auxiliary nurses during paid working hours. Central government will finance the costs for the time the employee is absent due to studies. The initiative comprises SEK 2.2 billion in 2020 and 2021. It is in line with the proposal presented by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions and the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union, which made the assessment that 10 000 people could be included.

To ensure that there are sufficient education and training places, the Government is also injecting funds so that 10 000 people can attend education and training focused on health and social care at regional vocational adult education institutions during the fourth quarter of 2020 if they study part-time. These places will be wholly funded by central government in 2020. Municipalities will fund 30 per cent of the education and training places that are sought for 2021.

In addition to this, it is proposed that folk high school vocational education and training be expanded with approximately 1 000 new half-year places in 2020, also with a focus on health and social care. It is proposed that central government wholly funds this expansion and no regional co-financing will be needed.