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International hires may never have heard of the a-kassa, Sweden's voluntary unemployment insurance. Since 1 October 2025 the time they've been a member decides how much they'd get if they lost the job, so the date they join matters.
What to tell a new hire
- Membership is voluntary; each fund sets its own fee.
- 80% of previous pay after at least 12 months of membership, 60% after 6 to 11, 50% for 5 months or less or no membership, on income up to 34,000 SEK a month. IAF: the new unemployment insurance
- Leaving a job without a valid reason means a 45 benefit day suspension. IAF: sanctions
- A union's income insurance is a separate sign-up.
Why it matters to the employer
A hire who is laid off and only then learns about the a-kassa has lost months of membership time. One explanation in the first weeks, in their language, prevents that. It is information, not advice: the choice of fund is theirs.
The employee-facing version: a-kassa and income insurance, two sign-ups.
Moving for work? How Settio helps
Settio helps employers and immigration and relocation agencies run the whole move in one place, so the person moving can focus on settling in:
- Before the move: one plan for the permit and the move, with every step and deadline. A partner and children get their own steps in the same household.
- After arrival: the employee portal shows the newcomer their next steps on their phone, in their language, from registering after arrival to help for settling in.
- When the permit runs out: permit monitoring flags the extension in good time.
HR teams and agencies can start for free. Moving yourself? Try our free tools for life in Sweden.
More in our guide toSettling in SwedenAI immigration compliance
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