Swedes caught in Norway border limbo
- Thousands of Swedes who work in Norwegian industry are unable to get to work, or to get unemployment benefit.
- The factories that employ them are on the other side of the border, which is closed due to the pandemic.
- Since the Swedes technically have jobs, they do not qualify for benefits, and since the factories do have work, the companies are not allowed to furlough the staff either.
Radio Sweden report
For more on the no mans land some Swedish factory workers are finding themselves in,
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Arctic Tourism & the Pandemic podcast, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: How not to promote Arctic tourism, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: Iceland’s ‘COVID-19 passport’ offers preview of debate over post-vaccine travel, CBC News
Norway: Norwegian Arctic wilderness tourism hit particularly hard by coronavirus, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: All Russia’s North Pole cruises rescheduled to 2021, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Summer tourism recovery is slow going in Sweden, Yle News
United States: Airline shutdown creates new challenges for rural Alaska, The Associated Press
