Sweden Approves Nearly 1,000 Work Permits for Foreign Berry Pickers Amid Tougher Labor Controls

Sweden has significantly increased the number of work permits granted to foreign berry pickers in 2026, with 950 permits approved compared to just 89 last year. This rise comes amid growing efforts to ensure fair working conditions in a sector previously marked by exploitation. Most of the approved workers come from Thailand, where employers demonstrated compliance with strict labor standards, according to Merima Ilijasevic from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).

The Swedish government has paused issuing new permits for berry picking, but all those approved this year fall under the EU's seasonal worker directive, which mandates standards on wages, insurance, and living arrangements. Of the 1,500 applications received, Migrationsverket approved about 950 and rejected 600 due to non-compliance with these requirements.

Berry picking has long been considered a high-risk sector for labor exploitation, prompting increased regulatory scrutiny. To tighten oversight, new rules require berry pickers to be employed directly by Swedish companies, a change from previous arrangements where many were hired via Thai staffing agencies. Furthermore, the Livsmedelsarbetarförbundet union has stepped up its role by monitoring workplaces to ensure adherence to labor agreements, notably the guarantee of a minimum wage.

Eva Norlin, regional coordinator against human trafficking, expressed hope that these changes will improve the working conditions for berry pickers, including better clothing and the provision of monthly salaries instead of irregular pay.

This development aligns with broader migration and labor reform efforts in Sweden, where immigration and integration remain complex political issues impacting social cohesion. The government’s more rigorous approach to seasonal labor permits and worker protections reflects a recognition of past failures in protecting vulnerable migrant workers and aims to foster fairer, legally compliant labor practices in Sweden’s agricultural sector.