「我們暫時沒預算，但這是個很棒的學習機會。」
拜託，別再講這句了，好嗎？
每次聽到我都想問：「學習什麼？學怎麼被剝削？還是你們跟我學？」
瑞典最愛搞那一套「實習制度」。
聽起來好像是為了幫助外國人融入社會， 但實際上就是一個包裝精美的免費勞工機制
(對啦，保險會支付你每日最低給付，但貴鬆鬆的通勤啦餐食啦通通都要你自己負擔)。
公司明明知道自己需要增加人手，要人幫忙， 卻說什麼「這只是實習，不支薪哦～」
然後一邊叫你全職上工、開會、寫報告、做簡報、跑行銷活動、幫主管擦屁股， 結束還會笑著說：「你太棒啦，如果我們有資源的話一定會找你回來。」
結果呢？
一個月後那職缺又出現， 還是一樣沒薪水。
職業局（Arbetsförmedlingen）更絕， 還覺得這種制度可以幫助我們這些外國移民「更快融入」。
融入個屁。 你要的是我們的勞力，要得是”感覺我們有再幫瑞典社會盡一份心力”，不是我們真正能帶來的能量與文化。
我真心的覺得， 瑞典政府更希望我們這些高資歷的外國移民去當清潔工、去超市補貨、 或者乾脆去當採莓果的工人。 因為那樣才叫「融入社會」，對吧？
不好意思，我不是來被練功用的。
我有經驗、有腦袋，也知道自己的價值。
你要我「融入」，可以。 但麻煩工作合約跟薪水單先來。
“We Can’t Pay You, But It’s Great Exposure!” (a.k.a. “The art of free labor – Swedish edition.”)
Ah yes, the classic:
“We don’t have the budget right now, but this will be a great learning opportunity.”
Really? A learning opportunity for who? you or me?
Let’s talk about the beautiful scam called internships for those of us are not fresh out of university.
They say it’s designed to “help foreigners integrate into society, to create your local network…”
Translation: Congratulations, you’ve been approved for unpaid labor with a smile.
(well, in here you get insurance money, mostly likely the minimum per day, and you need to pay for your own commute.)
You’re expected to show up full-time, attend meetings, manage projects, write reports, handle marketing campaigns, maybe even fix your boss’s mess, and yet still hear,
“We’re so impressed. Unfortunately, we don’t have an open role or resources to hire you right now.”
One month later, the same position magically reappears online.
Still unpaid.
Still “a great opportunity.”
And the Job agency?
They love this system.
They call it integration.
Integration, my ass.
What they really mean is:
Let’s get highly skilled foreigners to do free work, so everyone can feel good about “helping” and “integrated”.
Sometimes I honestly think the local government would prefer us – immigrants with high education level and specialized professional experience – to “integrate” by doing cleaning jobs, stocking shelves, or picking berries. Because apparently, that’s what real integration looks like.
I didn’t move countries to be someone’s free labor.
I have skills, experience, and a brain that works just fine.
You want me to integrate?
Sure. Start with a contract and paycheck.