[livrem]

It is true that is not the law, but it is an agreement between unions and employer organizations in Sweden going back at least to 1938 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltsj%C3%B6baden_Agreement).

Following the law is a very low bar because of that, since employers and unions are supposed to be able to sort things out between themselves. If companies begin to just "stick to the law" the system will break down obviously and a new system will have to replace it.

[mytailorisrich]

Yes. That also smacks of corporatism and "old boys club" probably in part because Sweden is a small country and, I imagine, everyone used to know everyone else in business and political circles.

Internationalisation is putting this to the test.