Handels union calls for stronger full-time employment rights in retail

The Swedish trade union Handels is calling for stronger legal protections to ensure full-time employment becomes the norm in the retail sector. Despite legislation introduced in autumn 2022 intended to prioritize full-time work, seven out of ten retail employees continue to work part-time, with many expressing a desire for more hours.

Union leadership notes a structural issue where employers organize operations around part-time contracts rather than full-time positions. Handels president Linda Palmetzhofer suggests that political intervention, such as adjusting employer social security contributions, may be necessary to encourage full-time hiring.

Investigations reveal that some major retailers, including Ikea, H&M, Lidl, and Jysk, frequently utilize part-time contracts. In some instances, a 32-hour week is being treated as a standard full-time contract. This has significant economic implications, as 41 percent of retail employees earn below the government-defined self-sufficiency threshold based on their contracted hours alone.