Things are different in Sweden but even with good unemployment benefits and i a union to help employment its better if you belong to an a-kassa?
A-kassa is voluntary unemployment insurance. Probably not. If pay that monthly fee for the security it gives you, here is what a Swediah a-kassa (an unemployment fund ) does:
Here are seven reasons why you should join today.
Members of an unemployment fund like Akademikernas a-kassacan receive up to 80 percent of their previous salaries, making the transition between jobs a whole lot smoother. Unlike car insurance, membership in an unemployment fund is actually really cheap! Akademikernas a-kassa charges just 100 kronor each month (about $12). The fund is not-for-profit and there’s no reason for them to charge members a fortune. Think about it – that’s less than the cost of a single meal out in Stockholm!
Some workers choose not to join unions due to political reasons. And politics can complicate things.
With Akademikernas a-kassa that’s a non-issue. The fund is completely independent and its sole purpose is to distribute benefits to the unemployed. The Swedish mentality is rather different then the American attitude toward shared risk. A Swedish newspaper I read says ” You might never lose your job. But what if your neighbour or best friend does? Swedish -taxes may be high, sure, but everyone benefits so everyone is willing to contribute.
At the moment just 1 percent of the members in Akademikernas a-kassa are unemployed – but they’re supported by the other 99 percent, making the burden barely noticeable. And unemployment benefits from a fund are cheaper than state welfare from tax-payer money – so it’s a win-win for everyone.”