It is a large group that lives and works in the hidden. This is partly about paperless people who work black to support themselves, and partly about a larger organized business - where companies obtain labor from abroad who do not have a work permit in Sweden.

"The last six to seven years have increased," says Jerk Wiberg, Group Manager for Border Police Internal Alien Controls in the Stockholm region.

Increased powers

Since last year, eight authorities have been working together to stop the black jobs. Last July, a new law was also introduced that gave the police more opportunities to conduct more workplace inspections. The law also provides opportunities to fine or prosecute employers who employ black labor.

But despite the efforts, police officers who SVT talked to in Stockholm, Gothenburg and the South region testify that they still find it difficult to stop the illegal labor market.

- It's so much that we can't handle it. For example, we can go into a construction site and state "here are 50 people working without a permit". It is impossible for eight to ten police officers to handle so many detainees, says Jerk Wiberg, Stockholm Police Region.

Unhealthy competition

In Gothenburg, the police say that they have increased the controls but that they cannot access all black jobs. Even in the South region, police say the new law facilitates, but that they are still only scratching the surface.

- It feels like some work sections have many people who may not be in the country or who work illegally, says Mats Ringsbacka, group manager at the Border Police in Kronoberg and Kalmar counties in Region South.

So that's just a small part you find?

- It feels so.

Construction, restaurant, cleaning industry and nail salons are among the risk sectors for illegal labor. The black work leads to unhealthy competition in the labor market where companies that comply with the laws are at risk of competing. And the people who work black are often in a vulnerable situation - without security and with poor pay.

- Many times they are used. It is in some way a type of modern slave trade, says Jerk Wiberg, Stockholm Police Region.