Jobs & society. Econemy. Labour market. Democracy and society. Trade Union and Unemployment insurance fund. Practical info about working in Denmark

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1 Jobs & society Trade Union and Unemployment insurance fund Econemy Labour market Democracy and society Practical info about working in Denmark Jobs & society

2 Jobs and Society Denmark prides itself on having a healthy work-life balance, with the lowest child poverty among developed nations and a higher than average time spent on leisure and personal care. The official working week in Denmark is 37 hours, which leave Danes able to spend about 68% of their day on personal and leisure activities. The job market is relatively inclusive, so that 73% of people aged 15 to 64 have a job on the background of very different education. Danes enjoy a high degree of flexibility at work, which adds to a good worklife balance. Most workplaces have a very flat structure, which creates room for dialogue between employers and employees. Read more about the work-life balance in Denmark: countries/denmark The International Strategy of Midtjylland focuses on development and growth in the region through international work. Good cooperation agreements with both international organizations and local municipalities ensure quality and growth through knowledge sharing. Among other things, Midtjylland has strong environments for ICT, clean tech, health, food, as well as architecture and design. The regional development plan is a comprehensive approach to development that invites cooperation between the region and the 19 municipalities. The development plan has cross-cutting initiatives covering everything from climate change adaptation, environment and energy to education, business, culture and health. Work is underway to create a more cohesive region that embraces the region s great diversity in working environments. From agricultural production in the less populated areas to research and business communities in the large cities. Democracy and society State, region and municipality In Denmark, public sector tasks are divided between the State, the regions and the municipalities. The State is responsible for the overall running of the country, including taxation, youth and higher education and foreign policy. Denmark has five regions, their primary task being running of the public health care service. The Regions bases its work on the values of dialogue, skill and innovation. These create a coherent health care system that contributes to welfare by promoting the opportunities of citizens for health, well-being and prosperity. By providing services at a highly specialized level they meet the demands of and benefit everyone. The 98 municipalities are the citizens entry to the public sector services. The municipalities are responsible for a wide range of tasks close to the daily lives of citizens, including employment, citizens services, childcare and primary and lower secondary education. Democracy and freedom of speech Denmark is a democratic society characterized by freedom, obligations and rights for everyone irrespective of gender, skin colour, cultural background, religion and sexual orientation. Everyone is free to think, speak and write, form societies or practise their religion. Personal liberty and equality are fundamental to Danish society, and liberty is limited only by the duty to respect other people s rights to freedom and equality. Elections Denmark is a representative democracy. On election day, voters elect the representatives they want to look after their interests in the Danish parliament, Folketinget, regional councils and town and city councils. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, but the prime minister can call an election earlier if he or she so wishes. This is how general elections are usually called. Municipal and regional elections also take place every four years, but this always happens on a fixed date, the third Tuesday in November. It is not possible to call regional or municipal elections in the middle of an election period. All Danish citizens aged 18 and over who live in Denmark are entitled to vote in a general election. Everyone who has lived in Denmark for three years and is over 18 years of age can vote in the municipal and regional council elections. 3

3 Labour market When people talk about the Danish labour market they often use the term flexicurity to describe the model, which is successfully managing the challenges of globalization and securing steady economic growth and employment. The model is a three-sided mix of labour market flexibility combined with social security and an active labour market policy with rights and obligations for the unemployed. The word flexicurity is an amalgamation of the words flexibility and security, which with a third element guidance, a job or education for all unemployed, creates what is also referred to as the Golden Triangle. Flexibility also includes flexible rules for hiring and firing. Security covers the guarantee for a legally specified payment at a relatively high level if you become unemployed. The aim of flexicurity is to promote employment security over job security. The model has the dual advantages of ensuring employers a flexible labour force while employees enjoy the safety net of an unemployment benefit system and an active employment policy. 4 5

4 Practical info about working in Denmark If you are going to work in Denmark, there are some things you should know and consider. When you are employed, a number of employment conditions apply. Employment contract Employers must provide employees with an employment contract outlining the terms of employment. The employer must state, among other things, what you have agreed on with regard to pay, place of work, weekly hours, start of the employment relationship, holiday, periods of notice and the length of the employment relationship (if it is time limited). In general, foreign workers in Denmark are covered by the same rules and agreements that apply to Danes. Weekly hours Even if there is no statutory provision on what constitutes normal weekly hours, the normal working week in Denmark is 37 hours according to most collective agreements. The majority of people work from Monday up to and including Friday in the period between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. If you work less than normal weekly hours, then it is a case of reduced hours or part-time work. Holidays and holiday pay All employees in Denmark have the right to five weeks holiday in each holiday year. The holiday year runs from 1 May to 30 April. If you are an employee in Denmark, you have the right to five weeks paid holiday from your employer. This is on the assumption that you have worked for an entire calendar year prior to the holiday year. If you have been employed for less than one calendar year, you earn 2.08 days of paid holiday per month of employment. If you have not earned the right to five weeks paid holiday, you still have the right to up to five weeks holiday without pay. You and your employer normally arrange when you take your holiday. All employees have the right to three weeks consecutive holiday in the period 1 May to 30 September. Jobs for spouses In the majority of Danish families, both adults are at work during the day. As a foreign employee you must thrive in order to feel settled in Denmark. If you have an accompanying family then that needs to do well too. Experience shows that it is an advantage if your spouse has a job or is taking an education. This is often the best way in which to develop a network and a good social life. Many municipalities offer help to accompanying spouses in the form of networking, events and targeted services. Check the municipality s website or ask at the Citizens Services. Workindenmark is the official Danish website for international recruitment, it can help your partner with job search. Workindenmark offers focused job-seeking seminars and seminars on how to write an application and CV that is attractive to Danish employers. You can also upload your CV to Workindenmark s CV bank and use the job bank. Danish companies with many international employees also offer counselling for accompanying partners and may have their own job banks or networks that you and your partner can use. You may be required to have your qualifications officially evaluated when you are looking for a job. Networks International Community facilitates Spouse Community, a network for spouses husbands as well as wives of international workers and their families. Membership is free. Expat in Denmark hosts social and professional events throughout the country aiming to make Denmark a more attractive place to work, live and stay. Find further information here: Start your own business In Denmark, companies can benefit from an easy plug-andplay registration and be ready to do business within a few hours. Establishing a business in Denmark is both cost and tax efficient. Key advantages when setting up a business in Denmark: Quick, informal and cost-efficient procedures for setting up Online registration of new companies means you are ready to do business within a few hours No notarial deeds Danish company law is conformed to current EU legislation Online registration: A new company can be incorporated and ready to operate within a few hours by using the online electronic registration system provided by the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency. Paper registration: A traditional paper registration of the company may still be used but registration will usually take two to three weeks. Learn more here: (click English) Entrepreneurship If you are considering entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship in Denmark is here to help you both online and through start-up events. On their website you can find more than 130 articles containing tools and information on starting and running your business concerning everything from marketing and sales to book keeping, budgets and law. Entrepreneurship in Denmark has translated parts of its website at which is a portal for entrepreneurs and growth enterprises. You can go there to find out more about entrepreneurship: 6 7

5 Trade Unions and the Unemployment insurance fund (A-kasse) When you negotiate pay and employment terms, it is an advantage to know a little about the special character of the Danish labour market. In the majority of Danish workplaces, pay and employment conditions are regulated via collective agreements between trade unions and employer associations. Therefore, there is no statutory minimum wage in Denmark. The social partners are responsible for compliance with the collective agreements that have been concluded. The vast majority of Danes are members of a trade union, and as a foreign employee you can join a trade union too. In Denmark, employers are obligated to take out occupational injury insurance. You are covered by your employer s insurance in connection with your job. Employer s insurance does not cover your leisure time. Unlike in many other countries, unemployment insurance is voluntary in Denmark. You can choose to register with an unemployment insurance fund ( A-kasse ). You can become a member of an unemployment insurance fund if you are between years of age and reside in Denmark (or another EU/EEA country and work in Denmark). You can be full-time or part-time insured. Read more at: Insurance When staying and living in Denmark, it is a good idea to take out personal liability insurance which covers you in the event that you damage another person s property and have to pay compensation. We would also recommend that you take out household contents insurance, which covers your personal property such as books, computer, furniture etc. In addition, it is a good idea to take out accident insurance which provides compensation in the event that you become disabled or are seriously injured. If you are going to take out insurance in Denmark, we recommend that you do so as soon as possible after your arrival. It is also a good idea to draw on other people s experience to learn which insurance companies provide the best coverage. Read more about insurance guidelines in Denmark: 8 9

6 econemy Tax If you have an income in Denmark you are obliged to pay tax. Taxes are used to pay for things such as the public infrastructure and health care service, children s schooling and looking after and caring for senior citizens. You will automatically receive a tax card from the Danish Tax and Customs Administration, SKAT. If you need to change your tax card or if you have any questions about your annual tax statement, income tax return or preliminary tax assessment, you can contact SKAT on tel or visit If you visit the International Citizen Service upon your arrival, SKAT will be represented here and help you get a Danish tax number/card. Read more at: Housing benefit EU/EEA citizens are eligible for housing benefit ( boligsikring ) a subsidy for rent from the local council. However, other subsidies for housing loans and deposits are not available. For details on the requirements and how to apply, please contact Udbetaling Danmark at Please note: Non-EU/EEA students in Denmark cannot apply for or receive housing benefit. If you do apply, it may result in your residence permit being revoked. NemKonto NemKonto Easy Account is the bank account which all public sector institutions use when making payments to you. It is an ordinary bank account, with many people designating their current account as their NemKonto Easy Account. You do not necessarily need a bank account yourself to have a NemKonto Easy Account. For example, if you use your spouse s bank account, you can designate this account as your NemKonto. If you do not have access to a bank account, you will need to choose a bank and ask to open an account and designate it as your NemKonto Easy Account. If you are unable to open an account, you need to contact the public sector institution, which owes you money. It is obliged to pay out your money and may well be able to find a solution. (click English) Danish bank account When you receive a salary from your employer it is useful to have a bank account. To open a bank account, you just need to contact a bank of your own choice. Remember to bring photo ID (e.g. your passport) and address information. You can only open a bank account with a Danish bank once you have obtained your tax card. As you are not a registered citizen in Denmark, the bank will want to see your: Passport Tax card Contract of employment and pay slip 10 11

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