Unemployment benefits in Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Europe consisting of the Jutland Peninsula and numerous islands. Typically, Denmark has had relatively low unemployment rates. Currently, Denmark has generous unemployment benefits in the form of private insurance funds. Unemployment benefits are typically payments made by the state or other authorized actors to unemployed persons.

History

To receive unemployment benefits in Denmark, one must be a part of a voluntary insurance fund and meet all requirements before receiving any benefits.[1] Danish unemployment hit a peak in 1993 with 12.4 percent unemployment. Since then, Denmark has seen a steady decline in unemployment rates, bottoming at 2.4 percent in 2007.[2] This significant decrease in unemployment is attributed to Denmark's emphasis on active labour market policies (ALMP) throughout the 1990s; which sought to help workers obtain the skills needed to create a successful labour market[2]. The Danish labour market is infused with a high degree of job mobility. The average job length in Denmark is 8 years, making it one of the lowest among the OECD countries.[2] The system of labour market flexibility provides workers with a high level of benefits and allows employers to hire and fire employees with ease. This combination has been in place in Denmark since the 1970s, but the high costs of public benefits eventually began to strain government finances.[3] Therefore, in the 1990s there was policy change that led to an emphasis on private insurance funds.[3]

Current policy

Currently, the legislation which encompasses the policies of these benefits is The Act on Unemployment Insurance, which is executed by the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment under the Ministry of Employment.[4] In order to become eligible for unemployment benefits, one must become part of one of the twenty four private and state approved Insurance funds; these funds are commonly known in Denmark as A-kasser's or A-kasse.[5] To receive benefits through an insurance fund, one must be a part of the fund for at least one year prior to unemployment, register with the Public Employment Service, and fulfil a waiting period if unemployment is self imposed.[6] According to the government, registration with the Public Employment Service, also known as the jobcentret, must occur on the first day of a person's unemployment. From here, the claimant is required to specify the industry in which they wish to work, create a CV and look at jobs suggested for them every seventh day, in order to actively seek employment.[6] The benefits received are contingent on one's registration with the Public Employment Service; the individual's insurance fund then assesses the benefits that they are to receive.[6] The amount paid by their insurance fund depends on age, educational attainment, full or part time status and previous salary.[6]

Employment benefits in Denmark can involve up to 90 percent wage reimbursement per month for a maximum period of three years.[7] Additionally, those who obtain part-time employment are able to receive what is known as a supplementary benefit. A supplementary benefit compensates for the remainder of a wage in order to provide a full time wage for a maximum period of 30 weeks.[7] In Denmark, those not registered with an insurance fund may be eligible to receive some benefits through the state, depending on certain qualifications. The difference here is that these benefits are paid direct though a citizen's municipality.[4] Recently, there have been changes to this generous benefit system. Beginning in 2019, only those who have lived in Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands or some other European Union or European Economic Area country for seven out of the past eight years will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.[7] Additionally, reforms have been made regarding self-employment and non-standard employment policy in Denmark. These new criteria will take into account a company's overall revenue, tax constraints and type of industry when assigning new benefits in an effort to ensure that wage earning does accurately meet the needs of all workers.[8] While there is much new research on active labour market policies in Denmark; some of the research has been inconclusive about the factors that have contributed to the success of such ALMP policies, including unemployment benefits.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Unemployment insurance". Workindenmark. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  2. 1 2 3 Hendeliowitz, Jan (February 2008). "Danish Employment Policy: National Target Setting, Regional Performance Management and Local Delivery" (PDF). www.oecd.org.
  3. 1 2 Country Benchmarks, The World Bank. "Labor Legislation: Denmark" (PDF).
  4. 1 2 "The Ultimate Guide to Unemployment Insurance in Denmark". skift-a-kasse.dk. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  5. ↑ "Oversigt over a-kasserne i Danmark". star.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Denmark - Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  7. 1 2 3 "Unemployment benefits in Denmark". www.a-kasser.dk. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  8. ↑ Kvist, Jon (July 2017). "Denmark: A new unemployment insurance scheme for the future labour market". European Social Policy Network.
  9. ↑ "The effectiveness of European active labor market programs". Labour Economics. 17 (6): 904–918. 2010-12-01. doi:10.1016/j.labeco.2010.02.004. ISSN 0927-5371.
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