Employer bankrupt and owes wages? Sweden’s state wage guarantee may help

The bankruptcy administrator or restructuring administrator decides entitlement and amount, while Skatteverket handles payment in new cases. The guarantee may cover unpaid wages, holiday pay and notice-period pay within the statutory rules.

In Sweden, the state wage guarantee may cover some unpaid wages if an employer goes bankrupt or enters restructuring.

The bankruptcy administrator or restructuring administrator decides entitlement and amount, while Skatteverket handles payment in new cases. The guarantee may cover unpaid wages, holiday pay and notice-period pay within the statutory rules.

What matters

• For 2026 decisions, the total cap is SEK 236,800.
• The guarantee covers at most eight months of employment time under the rules.
• It may include unpaid wages, holiday pay and notice-period salary.
• The administrator/reconstructor decides entitlement, not Skatteverket itself.

What to do

1. Find the bankruptcy/restructuring administrator contact details.
2. Read the wage-guarantee decision and verify bank details.
3. If information is wrong or you disagree, follow the appeal/contact instructions in the decision.

Important limitation

Not every debt is automatically covered; time limits, the cap and priority rules apply.

Official source

Skatteverket

Information checked: 13 October 2026.