Students all too often fall through the social safety net. It is not reasonable for students to have to pay for their own sick leave.
For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, the Nordic and Baltic national student organizations will meet at the Nordic Chairs' Meeting, NOM, in Gothenburg. Between October 20-23, 50 students will gather to exchange experiences and learn more about student work environments and mental health. These are topics that have gained particular relevance during the pandemic.
Swedish students suffer from mental health problems to a greater extent than their peers in the workforce, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency. According to CSN, financial stress is a contributing factor to students' mental health problems. Students already have small financial margins. At the same time, as a part-time sick leave student, you can only receive study funds for the time you are studying – not for the time you are sick. In practice, this means that students need to pay for their sick leave out of their own pocket.
Several government investigations have come to the same conclusion. The possibility for students to be on part-time sick leave should be introduced. It was gratifying to see that a majority of the parties in SFS election compass supported the proposal that students should have the opportunity to take part-time sick leave.
The waiting period is another aspect. During the pandemic, the waiting period deduction was debated when it was temporarily removed for professionals. At the same time, students have a 30-day waiting period. This means that students need to pay for their sick time with student funds during the waiting period. Which other groups are expected to borrow to be able to afford to be sick?
There is much to be done to reduce students' mental health. A minimum requirement must be that social safety nets also include students. Universities should also increase the possibility of adapting studies in the event of part-time sick leave and when returning to studies after a period of sick leave. Students must be able to be sick without risking their finances or their studies. This is a prerequisite for being able to rehabilitate back more quickly.
We now hope that the incoming government will live up to its promises to Student Sweden before the election, and deliver concrete change. Introducing the possibility of part-time sick leave would be a step in the right direction towards reducing mental ill health among students.
Linn Sword
Chairman, Swedish National Union of Students
Leonardo Rhedin
Union President, Göta Student Union