Denmark foreign worker agreement is set to bring major changes to how international labor enters the country.
A new deal between employer organizations and trade unions will open the door for more foreign workers to legally work in Denmark under lower salary thresholds, with new ID card rules and oversight to ensure fair working conditions. The goal is to meet growing labor shortages while preventing social dumping and maintaining strong labor standards.
It comes after talks between the Danish Employers’ Association (DA) and the Danish Trade Union Confederation (FH), with support from major labor groups including 3F and FOA.
Sixteen Countries Included Under the Agreement
Under the terms of the new arrangement, workers from these 16 non-EU countries can be recruited:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Singapore
- China
- Japan
- Australia
- Canada
- India
- Brazil
- Malaysia
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- North Macedonia
- Albania
- Ukraine
- Moldova
The goal is to attract qualified labor without undercutting local wages or conditions. The Danish government expects around 550 foreign hires in the initial phase, with more in the future.
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New Salary Thresholds Set for Foreign Employees
The plan drops the minimum annual salary from 514,000 DKK to 300,000 DKK. Sectors facing serious labor shortages will also follow the new 300,000 DKK rule, down from the current 415,000 DKK.
Only companies that follow collective agreements are eligible to bring in foreign workers through this route.
Mandatory ID Cards for Foreign Workers
All foreign hires under this agreement must carry a special ID card. These cards will help monitor working conditions and reduce the risk of social dumping. The system for these cards is still in development and is expected to roll out within five years.
Union representatives at workplaces will have the right to access information on wages and conditions for each employee.
“This gives us better tools to ensure fair pay and proper conditions,” said FH chairman Morten Skov Christensen.
Support from Employers and Industry Groups
Business leaders have welcomed the changes. Dansk Industri (DI) and TEKNIQ, which represents tech and mechanical companies, both voiced strong support.
“We cannot meet demand just by sending more people to school or asking retirees to keep working,” said TEKNIQ director Troels Blicher Danielsen. “We need foreign talent.”
He also noted that the country list was too narrow. “If we really want to prepare for the future, we need to stop focusing on passports and look at skills.”
Criticism from the Opposition
Not everyone supports the deal. Critics say it ignores domestic labor potential.
“The many seniors and people with disabilities in Denmark who still want to work are being left behind,” said Danish People’s Party leader Morten Messerschmidt. “The system would rather fly in labor from far away than include our own citizens. That is both unfair and harmful.”
