SVT review: Cheating and violations of rules by private players in Rusta and matcha

Arbetsförmedlingen pays billions of dollars each year to private companies in the giant initiative Rusta och matcha. They have been tasked with getting the long-term unemployed into jobs or studies.

There are strict requirements on both the companies and the unemployed regarding, among other things, physical presence and active job hunting. Minimal absences, illegal travel abroad or reluctance to look for a job must be reported to the Employment Service.

In the report "Fuskförmedlingen" SVT Nyheter Skåne and Uppdrag gränskning visit job coaches with a hidden camera to investigate whether the companies might consider breaking the rules to attract participants.

"It stops between you and me"

SVT pretends to be unemployed and asks the job coaches if they can imagine turning a blind eye to undeclared jobs or cheating on attendance.

SVT's reporter also pretends to be the husband of a job-seeking woman. He wants help to control his wife's association with other men.

In 54 out of 100 offices visited, the company agrees to one or more of these requirements.

- We are not allowed to talk about it with the Employment Agency, but it stays between you and me, says a job coach.

Started internal investigations

Director General of the Employment Service Maria Hemström Hemmingsson sees parts of the recorded material and reacts strongly:

- That this happens in a tax-financed business is really completely unacceptable, she says.

SVT has been in contact with the companies seen or heard in the report. Almost all of them write that they are very careful to follow the rules of the Employment Service and several have started internal investigations.

Some emphasize that it is subcontractors who managed the business and that these have been dismissed. Some companies believe that SVT draws incorrect conclusions from the conversations or that the audio clips are taken out of context.

Several of the offices which in hidden recordings are prepared to help the man control his wife reply that their purpose was to help the woman.