Guest Membership
Guest Membership is offered to non Swedish citizens that have been granted a Swedish work permit.
About Guest Membership in Unionen
Being a guest member immediately entitles you to advice, and after three months entitles you to be represented in negotiations, as long as the matter occurred after your application for membership was accepted by Unionen.
This Guest Membership is the same as regular membership for employees, providing the same services and benefits as other members are entitled to.
Who can become a guest member in Unionen?
Guest Membership is offered to anyone that has been granted a work permit to carry out work in Sweden and who is a citizen
- of a country within EU/EEA and Switzerland and is on a posting from your home country for work in Sweden
- of a third country
Differences to Unionen's standard terms
- Only 200 SEK in membership fee for the whole year (compared to 225 SEK for standard membership)
- Membership is valid for one year (or less if a work permit expires before the end of 12 months)
- If you want the membership to progress to a regular membership for employees, you need to apply for that before the Guest Membership is closed.
Someone to ask
If you need advice and support regarding your work situation, contact us by telephone on 0770-870 870, Mon - Fri between 09:00-17:00. We will also help you if you have any questions, for example:
- How long is my notice period?
- How many hours am I actually allowed to work?
- What should I do if I feel I am being discriminated against?
- Can I refuse to work overtime?
- What is the average salary in Sweden in my profession?
- What should I do if my employer wants to give me notice of termination?
- What should I do if I do not get paid what I thought I would?
- Am I entitled to sickness benefits if I get ill?
- Am I entitled to vacation?
The Swedish Labour Market - this is how it works
A guide to the role of trade unions, collective agreements, freedom of association and who does what on the Swedish labour market.
The Benefits of a Membership in Unionen
Unionen is Sweden’s largest private-sector trade union and the largest white-collar trade union in the world.
Some of the benefits offered:
- Someone to ask
- We keep an eye on wages (including minimum wages)
- Security even when you're out of work
- Different types of insurances
- Always close to you
Terms of guest membership
Guest membership of Unionen is offered to all those who have been granted a work permit to carry out work in Sweden and who are citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
The offer applies to newly employed people who have been granted a work permit to carry out work in Sweden and who are citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
This guest membership is the same as regular membership for employees, providing the same services and benefits as other members are entitled to. However, guest membership differs from a regular membership in two important ways:
1. Guest membership ceases when the work permit expires, but cannot last longer than one year.
2. The price is SEK 200 for the year or period. Guest membership cannot be combined with the introductory (regular) membership offer of three months free. The total membership fee is payable on joining Unionen. The fee or part thereof is not refunded should the guest member leave his/her position earlier than was stated at the time of joining.
Being a guest member immediately entitles you to advice, and after three months entitles you to be represented in negotiations, as long as the matter occurred after your application for membership was accepted by Unionen. Exemption from the three month rule may be granted if there are special circumstances, for example if Unionen has a fundamental interest in the matter.
Exemptions may also be granted if the member is new to the labour market, for example has come directly from being a student, immigrated from another country or some other similar situation. The same applies when transferring membership from another trade union.
Other fees that may apply:
As a member of Unionen you are automatically and compulsorily a member of the local Unionen trade union branch. If such a branch exists in your workplace, any additional membership fee will be payable. Applications can be made to the Unionen Membership Registration Office.
• A local fee may apply if there is a local trade union branch in your workplace
• A membership fee for the unemployment benefit fund is added if you have chosen to be a member of an unemployment benefit fund
• The premium for the optional part of the Unionen income protection insurance scheme is added if you have chosen to subscribe to this
