The government’s plan targets a wide range of state bodies, from the Public Employment Service to the national Pensions Agency. If passed, staff would be required to report any contact with the estimated 30,000 to 50,000 undocumented people currently residing in Sweden. This initiative aligns with a broader strategy by the current right and far-right coalition to accelerate deportations and restrict access to basic services ahead of the summer general election.
Swedish parliament set to mandate migrant reporting for public staff
Swedish lawmakers head to a vote on Monday that would compel public sector employees to notify police about undocumented individuals. Critics have dubbed the controversial proposal the 'snitch law,' arguing it undermines the fundamental ethics of public service and risks alienating the country’s most vulnerable populations.
Humanitarian organizations and unions warn that the mandate will force migrants to avoid essential care and support, increasing the risk of exploitation and untreated health issues. Hannah Laustiola of Doctors of the World described the policy as a signal to migrants that life in Sweden is intended to be unmanageable. Meanwhile, the European Federation of Public Service Unions condemned the move, citing failed precedents in Germany and the UK where similar reporting requirements proved ineffective. Lisa Pelling of the think tank Arena Idé cautioned that such measures invite over-compliance and normalized racial profiling, creating an environment where public workers are turned into agents of enforcement rather than providers of service.
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