- The industries hardest hit by the crisis are those where foreign-born people are found, hotels, restaurants and transport, says Johan Kreicbergs, business economist at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

Since the beginning of 2020, the number of foreign-born entrepreneurs has decreased by 15,000, which corresponds to 15 percent.

Entrepreneurs born in Sweden have instead increased by 19,000 until March, figures from Statistics Sweden show.

The development means that important gateways for foreign-born people to the Swedish labor market will disappear.

- These entrepreneurs are incredibly important in getting other foreign-born people into the labor market.

In Sweden, we have perhaps the biggest difference in terms of employment rate between domestic and foreign-born, says Johan Kreicbergs.

More difficult to understand application processes

He sees that many entrepreneurs perceive the regulations regarding corona support as cumbersome and believes that it is more difficult for entrepreneurs from other countries to understand application processes and conditions.

- There is a lot of information to enter.

It is difficult to interpret there and if you do not have Swedish as a mother tongue, this will be even more difficult, says Johan Kreicbergs.

Language the main reason

Yasser Rashid from Syria has been running a limited company in the taxi industry since 2019.

He managed 2020 with the help of redundancy support, but risks becoming liable for repayment after an error in the accounts, which according to him is a mistake.

- The main reason is the language.

Even though I read, I do not understand everything, he says.

He has enlisted the help of an accountant and a lawyer to correct the accounts and appeal the repayment decision.

Now he and his employees are waiting for a message from the Administrative Court.

- It is a decisive decision.

It took time to build up the business, now I risk the company due to a mistake, he says.

Is it not your responsibility to know what applies?

- Of course, and the goal is to manage it.

I have tried and I will continue to try to do the right thing.