Healthcare workers in Sweden are raising alarms about employers allegedly bypassing an ongoing overtime blockade by substituting overtime with mandatory protection work.

The overtime blockade by the Swedish Association of Health Professionals (Vårdförbundet) has been in effect since April 25 and affects all regions.

As negotiations remain at a standstill, the blockade will expand to include 29 major municipalities, including Stockholm, Malmö, and Gothenburg, affecting 5,000 members.

Vårdförbundet's Chair, Sineva Ribeiro, criticizes employers for using protection work to dodge the blockade, while the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) disputes these claims.

If no agreement is reached, the union warns of potential strikes.