In Sweden, there are 25 unemployment funds and the waiting time has increased sharply in some places as a result of the pandemic.
The worst times are the waiting times at Alfakassan.
- The waiting time in September was 22 weeks and in October 21, so it is going in the right direction, even if it is unfortunately too slow, says Olle Åkerlund, acting treasurer at Alfakassan.
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Some professions are particularly vulnerable
Some industries have been hit harder than others, which has meant that some occupational groups have been forced to apply for unemployment benefits to a greater extent than others.
- We have a 265% increase in cases, it is unlike any other industry.
We usually handle 13,000 cases in a full year, now in October we had handled 23,000, says Karin Pettersson, head of the cashier at the Hotel and Restaurant unemployment insurance fund.
Going in the right direction
Several unemployment funds, however, say that the development is going in the right direction and that processing times are slowly declining.
Much due to the fact that the unemployment insurance funds have taken measures and moved resources to cope with the increased pressure.
- It is clearly different now than when it was at its worst, we are on the way to normal.
The inflow has also decreased somewhat, says Harald Petersson, treasurer of the Union's unemployment fund.
- There is solidarity in the industry so we also help other unemployment funds.
I am very impressed and proud of our work, says Affe Mellström, treasurer for both SEKO and Byggnads a-kassa.
Listen when Alfakassan's cashier responds to the criticism in the video above.