A job became a hope for the future.

A permanent job within six months, otherwise you risk deportation. This is what the situation really looks like for many of the unaccompanied young refugees who came to Sweden in 2015 and then attended high school here. At Speed, we have decided to try to help some of them to a continued life in Sweden.

Permanent job or deportation.

In 2015, many unaccompanied refugee children came to Sweden. Long processing times meant that many of the children and young people came of age in the meantime, which reduced their chances of a granted residence permit. In July 2018, a temporary law came into force, the so-called “Nya Gymnasielagen”, which states that the Swedish Migration Agency may grant a temporary residence permit while these young people are in high school.

Then, when high school is over, the fight against the clock begins. The young people who have fought hard to learn Swedish and finish school have six months to get a job with permanent employment. If they fail, they risk deportation.

A job that brings hope for the future.

At Speed, we have decided to try to help and thus change the lives of some of these young people. The project started in the autumn of 2020, when we understood that our then newly hired employee Mohsen risked being deported, if he did not get a permanent position. It was the start of helping young refugees, and so was our cooperation with the aid organisation Agape Borås, which together with Rädda Barnen and the Arbetslivsförvaltningen at the City of Borås provides support for work, skills-enhancing efforts and psychosocial support through various projects funded by the ESF.

Mohsen came alone from Afghanistan to Sweden in 2015. After spending months of applying for jobs, he got in touch with Speed through a friend. Today, Mohsen has a permanent position in our logistics operations in Borås. And the long-awaited announcement of permanent residence has finally arrived!

   “The job at Speed means everything to me. It has given me opportunities that I otherwise would not have had. Before, I had no plans for the future, but after I got a permanent job, I dared to start thinking ahead. I am truly grateful for all the help I have received, that I get to work at Speed. I appreciate everything about my job, but the very best thing is to drive a truck,” says Mohsen.

Through the cooperation with Agape Borås, we as an employer come into contact with talented, driven people with the right attitude and competence, and who are threatened with deportation. And for Agape Borås, the collaboration means an increased chance of realizing the goal of permanent residence for the young people they help.

 “Our collaboration with Speed is extremely valuable in giving young people an opportunity to gain a foothold in the labour market. In this way, they get a chance to show what they are capable of, an opportunity to make a living. And it gives young people hope for the future,” says Kathleen, who is a volunteer at Agape in Borås.

Many times, a job means more than just an income and the opportunity to stay in Sweden permanently.

   “A job means everything, to increase their self-esteem, to make them feel part of the society and to counteract exclusion,” says Kathleen.

Actions that make a difference.

Getting a permanent job in as short a time as six months is often tough. This is even more difficult for the young refugees, who often lack a network of adults. With us at Speed, these young people, like other new employees, get to start with a fixed-term employment. If everything works well, we try to offer a permanent job as early as possible, in order to reduce the time of uncertainty.

Charlotte Damberg is employed at Rädda Barnen and operational leader of the project Ung Kraft in Borås. She has followed several young people since they came to Sweden in 2015 and can now rejoice in their development.

 “It’s fantastic to see that the teenagers we met then, now 5 years later, have grown up, are finished with their education and ready to integrate into the labour market. But for them to succeed, they sometimes need a little extra support and committed employers willing to support them. I am incredibly impressed with the efforts Speed has made for these young people,” says Charlotte.

We, who work at Speed, are very proud of the help that the company has been able to provide.

 “I am proud that we at Speed dare to invest in these young people, who often do not get a chance in the labour market. For us, they become an asset; they come in with great motivation and drive, and several have experience in warehousing and logistics,” says Martina Lundgren, head of the project at Speed.

   “I think it’s important that we do what we can to help the vulnerable in society. We won’t be able to help everyone, but for some people, the possibility of a job with us at Speed can be the difference between a life of safety and a life of great uncertainty. I am also convinced that we will have a team of very loyal employees in this way,” says Mats Johnson, CEO of Speed.