The Ministry of Narrative is a foundation that has received much attention for its work in supporting children in vulnerable areas.

In various educational centers in the country, children will receive free school programs that will "entice them to conquer the written word." 

The 36 people in the appeal have worked at the Ministry of Narrative between 2011 and 2021, and tell about serious work environment problems, something Dagens Nyheter was the first to report.

- I do not recognize myself.

But I am extremely responsible so it is clear that I set the culture.

I take it on and take responsibility, says Dilsa Demirbag-Sten.

The Director General says that the Ministry of Narrative will now bring in external help to make a screening of the activities, due to the appeal.

Has submitted applications

Among the most serious criticisms are accusations that several jobs have been terminated in connection with sick leave and parental leave.

- It is difficult for me to respond without knowing which case, but we are subject to Swedish legislation.

So you do not do that anyway, says Dilsa Demirbag-Sten.

- It hurts me and makes me sad that there are employees who feel this way and after ten years feel that they need to raise it in the media instead of going to the board, safety representative, me or the work environment group.

At the time of writing, the Swedish Work Environment Authority has received 21 reports against the Ministry of Narrative, from people behind the appeal.

Tasks were removed

The 36 employees believe that there is no collective agreement, and that LAS has been systematically rounded off, by terminating fixed-term employment before two years have elapsed.

Linn Darwish started working at the Narrative Ministry's training center in Gothenburg in 2017, and experienced a strong taboo when she raised the issue of collective agreements. 

- It became a very bad and tense atmosphere as soon as the question came up, she says. 

The response from the managers was that the business was new and that there were already good agreements.

Linn Darwish feels that her situation at work deteriorated after the incident. 

- There were many who experienced the same thing: they were deprived of work duties when they said something.

Dilsa Demirbag-Sten does not recognize that criticism:

- We have never said that we are against collective agreements, she says to SVT.

- We do not have it, but do not mind it.

It's just for colleagues to come together and push the issue, it's not harder than that.

High staff turnover

A large part of the criticism is about high staff turnover: According to the call, between 2019 - 2020 it was over 100 percent when 19 people left the foundation - which would be more than the total number of employees.

Dilsa Demirbag-Sten confirms that they have a high staff turnover, but believes that they do not have a majority of permanent employees out of necessity:

- We are an idea-driven organization that does not know if we have funding for next year.

We have a large flow of project and hourly employees who have seen us as a platform to get to the next place.

"Felt terribly bad"

Lotte Brandt worked at the Storytelling Ministry between 2013 and 2015. She says that she was first described as a rock, but after a conflict with the management, it turned around.

Tasks she had were moved to others.  

- I did not recognize myself, I felt terribly bad and felt paranoid and constantly monitored, says Lotte Brandt, who eventually resigned.

The Ministry of Narratives now hopes that the own investigation and reports to the Swedish Work Environment Authority will show the organization's shortcomings, and what can be done better.

- It makes me sad to read this and it is time for self-examination in every way, says Dilsa Demirbag-Sten.