Discrimination Act (2008:567)
What Is the Discrimination Act?
The Discrimination Act (2008:567) is a Swedish law that aims to prevent discrimination and promote equal rights for everyone, regardless of:
- Gender (including transgender identity or expression)
- Ethnicity (national origin, skin color, etc.)
- Religion or belief
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Age
The law applies to many areas of life, including work, education, housing, and services (like shops or healthcare) 1.
Key Rules in the Discrimination Act
1. What Counts as Discrimination?
The law defines discrimination in several ways:
- Direct discrimination – Treating someone worse than others because of their gender, disability, etc. (e.g., not hiring someone because of their age).
- Indirect discrimination – A rule that seems neutral but unfairly affects a certain group (e.g., requiring a driver’s license for a job that doesn’t involve driving, which could exclude some disabled people).
- Harassment – Offensive behavior linked to a protected trait (e.g., racist jokes at work).
- Sexual harassment – Unwanted sexual behavior that violates dignity.
- Inadequate accessibility – Failing to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people (e.g., no wheelchair ramps in a public building) 12.
2. Employers Must Prevent Discrimination
- Workplace rules: Employers must investigate harassment claims and take action to stop it.
- Reasonable adjustments: Companies must make workplaces accessible for disabled employees (e.g., flexible work setups, assistive tech).
- Pay transparency: Employers must analyze gender pay gaps and fix unfair differences 111.
3. Schools & Services Must Also Comply
- Education: Schools can’t discriminate in admissions or treatment of students.
- Housing & services: Businesses (like stores or landlords) can’t refuse service based on protected traits 1.
4. Consequences for Breaking the Law
If someone discriminates, they may have to:
- Pay compensation to the victim.
- Change unfair policies.
- Face legal penalties 28.
Important Dates
- Enacted: 2009 (with updates over time, like the 2017 amendment requiring stricter pay gap reviews) 8.
- EU Pay Transparency Directive: Sweden is updating its laws to match new EU rules by 2026, which will require even more pay transparency 1114.
Final Notes
This explanation is based on the official Discrimination Act (2008:567). For full details, check the original document here:
Official Law Text