Today’s news / Denmark: Less rules to boost youth part-time jobs
Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen (S), Finance Minister Stephanie Lose (V) and Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt are holding a press conference on Monday about a new initiative regarding part-time jobs at the company Poul W. Jensens Eftf. in Sorø. Photo: Claus Bech/Ritzau Scanpix

Denmark: Less rules to boost youth part-time jobs

The Danish government proposes fewer regulations to enable more youth between 13-17 years old to find part-time employment. Planned rule changes aim to expand work functions and locations for 13-15-year-olds in school, including allowing them to operate soft ice cream machines and work later hours in care homes. For 15-17-year-olds, the proposal supports working at irregular hours across industries. Currently, only half of the youth in this age group have part-time jobs, a decrease of 70,000 compared to the 1980s. While targeting an increase in youth employment, no specific targets have been set by Employment Minister Ane-Halsboe Jørgensen. The government envisions public institutions providing at least one part-time job for youth under 18 and plans to abolish the labor market contribution for the young, costing around 165 million Danish kroner annually.