It is the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth that decides on and distributes state support for short-term layoffs to companies during the corona crisis. Since the new law came into place in March, the authority has made just over 44,700 decisions and distributed more than SEK 27 billion.

But despite the fact that it is tax funds that finance the support, no one but the state has insight into who receives the money and how it is used.

SVT requested, following tips, documents about a company that reportedly had cheated with the support. The company is well known and has recurring government assignments. According to information, their income is not affected by the crisis.

Employees have said that the company has applied for and received support for short-term work. At the same time, the staff must have been asked to still come in and work even though they were laid off.

Got rejected

SVT had its application rejected. The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth referred to the secrecy legislation and said that this information could harm companies if it is disclosed.

The decision has been tried in another case in the Court of Appeal, which ruled in favor of the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth. The case was appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court, which denied leave to appeal, which means that the judgment from the Court of Appeal stands.

According to Günther Mårder, CEO of the industry association Företagarna, this is not a controversial issue for their members.

- The short-term layoffs are a support so that companies do not have to lay off employees. It is not a sensitive task, he says.

Refers to the law

When Tom Brooks, head of department for companies at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, is asked why the media is rejected, he refers to the legislation.

- We should not disclose information that may be sensitive to companies, it has also been tried in court, he says.

Minister of Justice: The need for confidentiality outweighs

Minister of Justice Morgan Johansson (SocDem) does not want to be interviewed, but replies in writing that "the legislator has made a careful balance between the public interest in transparency and the entrepreneur's interest in protection, and found that as a general rule the need for confidentiality outweighs these cases."

He also says that there is no need to review the legislation.