On 1 October 2024, the government published the legislative programme for the parliamentary year 2024-2025, which presents several new initiatives in the employment law area.
Below, we review the most important measures in the legislative programme focusing on employment law.
Amendment of the Act on the posting of employees etc. and the Danish Aliens Act (Oct I)
The bill proposes an amendment of the Act on the posting of employees etc. and the Danish Aliens Act in relation to identification requirements and more information requirements in the Register of Foreign Service Providers.
The purpose of the bill is to strengthen efforts against the use of illegal labour. The bill implements parts of the agreement to strengthen efforts against social dumping.
Employee Accommodation Act (Oct I)
The bill on employee accommodation is based on the agreement on strengthening efforts against social dumping.
The bill aims to introduce certain minimum housing requirements when employers provide accommodation for employees.
Amendment of the Act on the organisation and support of employment initiatives etc. (Nov I)
The purpose of the bill is to establish a new Labour Market Council consisting of the two sides of industry that will discuss matters in both the working environment and employment areas.
The bill also proposes to abolish the total of 11 councils under the Ministry of Employment consisting of the Employment Council, the Supervisory Council, the eight Regional Labour Market Councils and the Working Environment Council. The bill is a follow-up to the government's objectives for the Finance Act for 2025.
Amendment of the Working Environment Act (Dec II)
The bill proposes a legal basis for the Danish Working Environment Authority to be able to decide to stop contractors at construction sites where companies repeatedly violate the Working Environment Act with a significant risk to the health and safety of employees.
The bill implements parts of the agreement on a strengthened effort against social dumping.
The bill has been sent out for consultation.
Amendment of the Employment Initiatives Act (Feb II)
The bill will implement the changes as a result of the upcoming negotiations on new employment initiatives. The government has set up the Expert Group for Future Employment Initiatives. In June 2024, the expert group made recommendations for a reform of the employment initiatives with a particular focus on greater professional freedom in the organisation of the initiatives, simplification of the rules and dignity for the individual citizen.
The bill is a follow-up to the government platform, "Responsibility for Denmark", from December 2022.
The Act on gender distribution among management members in certain large listed companies (Gender Balance Act) (Oct II)
The bill aims to achieve a more equal representation of women and men among management members in large listed companies. The bill implements the Gender Balance Directive (Directive 2022/2381 of 23 November 2022).
It proposes a full implementation of the directive so that companies are subject to a target for the proportion of directors of the underrepresented gender of 40 per cent of the positions in the highest governance body.