Sweden introduces new collective agreement for total defence exercises

Photo · Jonas Helmersson / Försvarsmakten

The Swedish Armed Forces are exercising together with the Police and civilian healthcare services during exercise METEOR 22

The Swedish Agency for Government Employers and the state trade unions have signed a new collective agreement that, from 2027, regulates working hours and compensation when government agencies conduct joint total defence and preparedness exercises. The agreement allows for intensive exercises of up to 13 hours per day or around the clock, with compensation in the form of time off and financial remuneration for participating personnel.

The Editorial Team · under Editor-in-Chief Jacob WollheimSweden3 Nov 2026Original Source

In October, the Swedish Agency for Government Employers (Arbetsgivarverket) and the state-sector trade unions signed a new collective agreement for joint total defence and preparedness exercises. The agreement enters into force on 1 January 2027 and is intended to make it easier for Swedish government agencies to train together, including outside regular working hours.

According to a press release from the Swedish Agency for Government Employers, the new exercise agreement (ÖVA) regulates working hours, compensation and planning when two or more state employers carry out joint exercises.

The agreement makes it possible to plan exercises involving up to 13 hours of participation per day, or around the clock, including over several consecutive days. Participating staff are compensated with time off and financial remuneration.

"For the first time, government agencies and their employees have common terms for carrying out preparedness and total defence exercises together," says Åsa Erba Stenhammar, chief negotiator for OFR/S,P,O, in the press release.

According to the Swedish Agency for Government Employers, agencies with irregular working hours need to review local provisions on matters such as rest periods and the return to normal working hours before the agreement takes effect.

Common questions about the article

Questions and answers generated automatically from the article content.

01What does the new collective agreement mean for total defence exercises?

The agreement, signed by the Swedish Agency for Government Employers and state trade unions, regulates working hours, compensation and planning when several state employers conduct joint exercises. It provides, for the first time, common terms and conditions for preparedness and total defence exercises, according to Åsa Erba Stenhammar, Head of Negotiations at OFR/S,P,O. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-03.

02When does the exercise agreement (ÖVA) come into force?

03How much exercise participation is allowed for personnel under the new agreement?