Is there a minimum wage in Sweden?
No — Sweden has no statutory minimum wage. Instead, the lowest pay is set sector by sector in collective agreements between unions and employer organisations. About 90% of employees are covered by a collective agreement. Contractual minimums run roughly between 19,000 and 28,000 kr a month depending on the sector — but those are agreement figures, not law, and many agreements have lower entry and youth rates on top. An employer without a collective agreement is in principle free to agree any wage with the employee; there is no statutory floor, only what you agree between you. Nor does the EU Minimum Wage Directive force Sweden to introduce a statutory minimum.
📋 The rules
- No statutory minimum wage in Sweden
- Lowest pay is set in collective agreements by sector
- About 90% of employees are covered by an agreement
- Contractual minimums: roughly 19,000–28,000 kr/month
- Without a collective agreement there is no statutory floor
🔓 Exceptions
- The EU Minimum Wage Directive does not force Sweden to introduce a statutory minimum
- Many agreements have lower entry or youth rates
- A union can use strikes/blockades against an employer without an agreement
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no criminal minimum-wage offence in Sweden — no authority fines an employer for paying badly. If the employer has signed a collective agreement and still pays below its minimum, that is a breach of contract, and the union or the employee can claim the shortfall plus damages. If the employer has no agreement there is no floor to invoke: the wage is whatever you agreed, however low. What remains is collective pressure — a union can use strikes or blockades against an employer without an agreement.
📎 Official sources
- Unionen · Minimum and lowest pay →
- LO · Minimum wage in the EU →
- National Mediation Office · Pay and agreements →
❓ Frequently asked
Is there a minimum wage by law in Sweden?
No, there is no statutory minimum wage in Sweden. The lowest pay is set sector by sector in collective agreements between unions and employer organisations, and about 90% of employees are covered.
How much is the lowest pay then?
It varies, roughly between 19,000 and 28,000 kr a month depending on sector and agreement. Many agreements also have lower entry and youth rates, and the figures come from the agreements — not from law.
What applies if the employer has no collective agreement?
Then there is no floor in law — the wage is whatever you agree in the employment contract. A union can, however, use strikes or blockades against an employer without an agreement to force one through.
Does the EU force Sweden to introduce a minimum wage?
No. The EU Minimum Wage Directive respects the Swedish model, where pay is set in collective agreements rather than in law. About 90% of employees are already covered by an agreement, which is the whole point.
What happens if I get less than the agreement says?
If the employer signed the collective agreement it is a breach of contract, and you or the union can claim the shortfall plus damages. There is no criminal minimum-wage offence in Sweden.
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