A Swedish municipality faces charges after an employee worked for over a year without proper documentation. The worker at Kiruna municipality lacked valid work authorization from February 2023 to June 2024. His application for permit renewal arrived too late at the Swedish Migration Agency.
Both the employee and his supervisor now face charges for violating Swedish immigration law. The unit manager denies any wrongdoing. She claims she followed all municipal hiring procedures.
My client believes she did nothing wrong, said her defense lawyer Vera Gärdemalm. She followed all existing routines and received clearance from the staffing department.
The municipality faces fines totaling approximately 57,000 Swedish kronor ($5,400). Kiruna has since implemented new verification procedures for checking work permits of new hires.
This case highlights how bureaucratic delays can create legal problems for both employers and employees. Municipalities typically serve as role models for following employment regulations, making this situation particularly noteworthy.