Left Calls for More Foreign Workers in Denmark

Economic Minister Stephanie Lose from the Venstre party (V) views increased international labor as essential for Denmark in the coming years, despite not specifying how much. She acknowledges the current low unemployment and sees international labor as an important supplement. In contrast, Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen (S) opposes more foreign labor until involuntary senior unemployment decreases, a stance not supported by Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M). He refers to the government’s goal of avoiding social dumping while promoting an open labor market. Danish Chamber of Commerce has proposed partnerships with other countries to bring up to 50,000 workers to Denmark. Foreign labor has been significantly contributing to Denmark’s record-high employment, adding 157 billion Danish kroner to the gross national product (GNP) in the first half of the year, according to Danish Chamber of Commerce.