In Botkyrka municipality, 42 percent of the inhabitants were born abroad. Here, knowledge of languages ​​other than Swedish is a great asset, for those who work with the elderly. But good Swedish is still a prerequisite, says Tuva Lund (S), chairman of the care and welfare committee in Botkyrka. She is not sure that national legislation on language tests would be good, but is convinced that this is the right path for Botkyrka.

- It is about safety and patient safety, but also about the quality of care. You can not be a pilot if you can not fly airplanes and you can not work as an assistant nurse if you can not write, speak or read good enough Swedish, says Tuva Lund.

Increased demands on assistant nurses

At the Tunängen accommodation in Tumba, both employees and several of the elderly think that language tests for new hires are a good idea.

- The demands placed on an assistant nurse have increased in recent years, with social documentation. The job is no longer just to feed and change clothes, says Barbare Huskaj, unit manager at Tunängen.

- I almost avoid talking to the staff sometimes because I think it's so hard that they do not really understand what I want to say, says Bengt Engelbrand who lives on Tunängen.

40 weeks of training

One concern among critics is that otherwise suitable applicants should be screened out. But Barbare Huskaj, who is one of those who will hire new employees when the tests are introduced, thinks it is the wrong focus.

- One must not forget that the elderly are in a position of dependence. It is easy to think about this issue of excluding those who do not know the language, but in the end it is not about that party, but it is actually about our elderly who need care.

Botkyrka's language initiative also includes an educational part. Those who already work with care and are considered to have insufficient Swedish skills are offered a 40-week course part-time, which they are allowed to attend during working hours.