Dear Johan Forssell
I was pleased to see you embarked on a jaunt to Canada last week. I was even more delighted that your trip had such an important purpose, according to the press release that informed us of your three-day trip:
“The purpose of the migration minister's trip to Canada is to exchange experiences and be inspired by Canada’s work to attract and retain highly qualified labour,” the press release chirped.
How very worthy. And there was more:
“Sweden must be an attractive country for highly qualified labour. The government is working to promote such migration, but there is still more to be done.”
I must admit, reading the last eight words of that quote, my instant reaction was, “No shit, Sherlock.”
It’s an English phrase, but I suspect it’s one with which you're familiar.
You see, Johan, as someone reporting on events in Skellefteå, where Northvolt has laid off 1,600 highly qualified non-EU workers who will soon be sent home due to the migration ministry’s restrictive three-month work visa rule, I’m puzzled why you needed to go to Canada at all.
I’m aware that some politicians from southern Sweden think Norrland is a different country and that we northern folk must be thousands of kilometres away from the capital. But Skellefteå is, in fact, closer to Stockholm than Canada. Crazy, huh?
So why didn’t you save time by paying us a visit, Johan? Because we’ve already solved one part of the talent equation - our smart, innovative municipalities and groundbreaking companies have found ways to attract top-notch talent to the region.
Therefore, all you’d have to do is figure out how to keep them here!
Because we really do need them here, Johan. It seems foolish, even careless, to lose these highly-skilled and smart ex-Northvolters, just because they're from outside the EU. The most challenging part of recruitment—attracting talent to the region—has already been accomplished.
Why on earth would we want to send them back? These are people with first-rate educations and with expertise to spare - the green transition needs them, after all they've already proven their commitment both to Norrland and to a sustainable future for Sweden.
It's not just these skilled workers we want to retain. We also need to keep their families here: they are the future generations who could become Sweden's doctors, engineers, and teachers.
The municipalities and many other employers, are working hard on ways to offer these people new jobs, but these processes take time.
And with the work visa limits being so short, these non-EU families will likely be forced out, and they'll either be sent home or we'll see another country benefitting from their expertise and potential.
Johan, why has this work visa issue still not been addressed?
Tell me, do you really want to be remembered for another sarcastic English saying?
“You had ONE job to do.”
Johan Forssell has not responded to this email, or another earlier one.