In the Swedish office of 1Office, we are getting more and more questions about trade unions and topics related to collective agreements. Naturally, we are always happy to answer your questions, but with the following blog post we will try to proactively answer some general questions. Today we will take a look at the Painters’ Trade Union (Målareförbund).

Companies and employees working in the following occupations can belong to this trade union:

• Painters on construction projects
• Those working with painting materials
• Iron painters
• Service providers in this field
• Car painters
• Other related jobs.

As is the case with the other trade unions, a minimum wage and specifications for the working environment have also been established in this field. The members of the painter’s trade union may become members of the unemployment insurance (Byggnads fund), which insures unemployment benefits that amount to 80% of the worker’s salary.

For the company, membership in this trade union means that it must have the following:

• Occupational documents
• An employment contract with the workers
• Insurance and reports on the salary insurance

The insurance payment also includes the various membership fees of the trade union:

• Mätningsavgift – fee for the service that monitors equal wages
• Healthcare/rehabilitation fee for workers that have been injured on the job
• MYN – matters related to employing students
• Maintenance fee for the Painters’ Museum
• Fee for the Painters’ Fund

Employing students is promoted and favorable conditions for both the company and the students have been created. The wage rate is lower if the student is hired as a trainee rather than for a probationary period; also a specific number of training hours must be completed. If you wish to hire a painting apprentice, you must notify the painters’ training organization – Målerbranchens Yrkesnämnd.

If necessary, we can to help to coordinate your membership with a trade union, as well as your tax registration.