WHICH IS WHY THEY CALL THEMSELVES PROGRESSIVES:

"Raise unemployment pay to get Swedes off sick leave" (The Local, 24th February 2007)

Many Swedes remain on long term sick leave even when they are capable of returning to work because they are worried about becoming unemployed - where they will earn less than their sick pay.

An official inquiry into Sweden's social insurance system has concluded that initial unemployment benefits should rise, at least to the level of sick pay, to encourage people to move from one system to the other.