The agency acts like an employers' organization, responsible for central agreements and negotiations with trade unions on pay and employment conditions for approximately 250,000 employees in the government sector, like the overall pay structures and salary increases.
SAGE is also responsible for the development and follow-up of employer policies in the government sector.
The agency is led by a 15-member board (Swedish: arbetsgivarkollegium), appointed by the 250 heads of the member agencies, which in turn appoint a Director-General responsible for the daily operations of SAGE.
The board is responsible for pay negotiations with the trade unions.
SAGE was officially established in 1994, but similar organisations have existed under various names since 1965.