In Sweden, a new proposal aims to make it easier for municipalities to conduct background checks on new employees, particularly those working with vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

This comes after the Justitieombudsmannen criticized Södertälje municipality for conducting unauthorized background checks on all employees.

The proposal, presented by government investigator Charlotte Svensson, suggests that municipalities should be able to access police records for serious crimes like murder and drug offenses when hiring for critical positions.

However, it does not allow for ongoing checks of current employees, respecting personal privacy.

The proposal has received mixed reactions, with some municipalities hoping for more comprehensive measures.