Sweden’s government has agreed to exempt teachers, healthcare workers, and social workers from a proposed law requiring them to report undocumented migrants.
This decision follows debates with the far-right Sweden Democrats, who opposed exemptions, and pressure from the Liberal Party, which advocated for these protections.
The law was one of the pillars of the Tidö agreement that underpins the current government and would mean that personnel in areas such as education, health and social services would be required to report any undocumented immigrants they come into contact with at work. The aim was to make it more difficult to live in Sweden without permission.
However, the proposal was heavily criticized, especially by trade unions.
Johanna Jaara Åstrand, the head of Sweden's largest academic union, Sveriges Lärare, made her stance clear:
– Teachers should teach children to read and write, not help deport them from the country.
A recent inquiry also warned that mandatory reporting could deter vulnerable individuals from seeking healthcare or education, potentially violating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.