In Sweden, an unemployment fund is an economic association tied to a trade union, except the Unemployment fund Alfa and a few unemployment funds for self-employed and employers. Since July 1, 2002, an unemployment fund is to some extent equal to a government agency, and is as thus comprised by the Freedom of the Press Act of the Swedish constitution. The primary function of the unemployment funds is to administrate and pay unemployment benefits, according to law and Lag om arbetslöshetskassor ). The swedish unemployment insurance is in general divided into two parts – the basic insurance and a voluntary funds.
Alfa-kassan
Alfa-kassan fund is independent and under certain conditions its financial help is available to all swedish citizens over the age of 20, regardless of work field. So there is no need for signing up. This insurance is mandatory and consists of flat rate benefit of 365 SEK per day. The requirements to obtain this benefit are as follows: • to be enrolled at the Public Employment Service • to be unemployed • actively seek for work and be prepared to accept a suitable job • be able to work at least 3 hours a day, 17 hours per week • to have worked at least 80 hours per month for 6 months • to have worked 480 hours during 6 consecutive calendar months for a minimum of 50 hours every month
Voluntary funds
Voluntary income-related insurance works on a principle of a membership. Since you are a member of this type of fund for at least 12 months and you have worked 6 months of half-time work, you are allowed to get the payment equal to 80 % of your regular salary. Although the maximum is 910 SEK per day. For the following 100 days you receive 70 % of your average income, but maximum is 760 SEK per day. There is also an advantage for unemployed parents of small children, they can get the 70 % of their normal income for additional 150 days. The membership is a little bit limited as well. You have to be less than 64 years old. You cannot be a member of 2 or more funds at the same time. And you have to pay a membership fees.
There are 26 unemployment insurance funds in Sweden. Mostly they are administrated by labour unions. Around 80 % of swedish workforce is covered by these funds. • Unemployment Insurance Fund for Graduates • The Alfa Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Unemployment Insurance Fund for Service and Communications Employees • The Vision Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Building Workers' Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Electricians' Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Building Maintenance Workers' Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Financial and Insurance Employees' Unemployment Insurance Fund • GS Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Dockworkers’ Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Commercial Employees’ Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Unemployment Insurance Fund • Industrial and Metal workers´ Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Journalists' Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Municipal Workers' Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Management Staff's Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Food Workers' Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Teachers' Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Pulp and paper Workers' Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Unemployment Insurance Fund for Entreprenuers • ST's Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Swedish Workers' Unemployment Insurance Fund • Unemployment insurance fund of the Swedish Entrepreneurs • The Salesmen’s Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Transport Workers’ Unemployment Insurance Fund • The Union’s Unemployment Insurance Fund
