Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Denmark (Ratification: 1972)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Articles 1, 3 and 6 of the Convention. Activities of the employment service and contribution to employment promotion. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that simplifications of the Active Employment Measures Act (an Agreement on a simpler employment system) were adopted and entered into force on 1 January 2020. The new legislation has removed a number of specific rules and procedural requirements governing the work of municipalities in relation to unemployed workers. Moreover, a number of specific rules and procedural requirements for the municipalities’ work relating to unemployed workers have been removed. This has given municipalities greater autonomy in the planning of unemployment initiatives and adapting them to the needs of unemployed individuals. At the same time, there is an increased focus on municipalities’ results in offering unemployed persons better tailored employment opportunities. These results will be monitored through benchmarking and closer monitoring of municipalities with insufficient results in relation to ensuring the proper reintegration of unemployed persons into the labour market. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated, detailed information, including statistics disaggregated by age and sex, on the scope, nature and impact of activities carried out under the Active Employment Measures Act, particularly on the contribution of the Act to full, productive and freely chosen employment in the country.

Article 7. Particular categories of applicants for employment.The Committee requests the Government to provide information, including up-to-date statistics, disaggregated by sex and age, on the impact of measures taken to meet the employment needs of particular categories of jobseekers, particularly young persons, migrants, persons with disabilities and other groups in vulnerable situations.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report. It notes, in particular, the adoption of the Act on an active labour market policy on 30 June 1993 which is described in the report as an element of the Government's general labour market reform. The Government indicates that under the provisions of the new Act the public employment service will be able to offer more flexible and individual offers and activities to the unemployed. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply a copy of this Act with its next report.

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's reply to its previous comments that under the Act on the public employment service and the unemployment insurance system, as amended by Act No. 840 of 20 December 1989, the public employment service may charge users for special services offered to enterprises and institutions. The Government indicates that there is a difference between the regions in the extent to which user payments have been introduced, but that most of the regions are offering special services of jobseeking activities and assistance to enterprises which plan large-scale dismissals. The Government also indicates that many of the regions offer planning of training activities and staff selection, and that other regions have introduced services such as staff selection in connection with recruitment of managers and specialists, or individual job counselling and planning of training to employees which have to be dismissed.

The Committee noted in its previous direct request that, under the abovementioned Act, the Minister of Labour was authorized to introduce rules on user-payments for some special services rendered to the employers by the public employment service in connection with their education/training and staff planning activities, whereas the ordinary services of the public employment service continue to be free. The Committee requests the Government to supply the text of the abovementioned rules as soon as they are adopted and to continue to supply detailed information on the new situation regarding the public employment service in order to enable the Committee to assess whether the Convention which provides that the public employment service shall be free of charge (Article 1), in particular, with regard to its functions laid down in Article 6, is being implemented.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report. It notes, in particular, the adoption of the Act on an active labour market policy on 30 June 1993 which is described in the report as an element of the Government's general labour market reform. The Government indicates that under the provisions of the new Act the public employment service will be able to offer more flexible and individual offers and activities to the unemployed. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply a copy of this Act with its next report.

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's reply to its previous comments that under the Act on the public employment service and the unemployment insurance system, as amended by Act No. 840 of 20 December 1989, the public employment service may charge users for special services offered to enterprises and institutions. The Government indicates that there is a difference between the regions in the extent to which user payments have been introduced, but that most of the regions are offering special services of jobseeking activities and assistance to enterprises which plan large-scale dismissals. The Government also indicates that many of the regions offer planning of training activities and staff selection, and that other regions have introduced services such as staff selection in connection with recruitment of managers and specialists, or individual job counselling and planning of training to employees which have to be dismissed.

The Committee noted in its previous direct request that, under the above-mentioned Act, the Minister of Labour was authorized to introduce rules on user-payments for some special services rendered to the employers by the public employment service in connection with their education/training and staff planning activities, whereas the ordinary services of the public employment service continue to be free. The Committee requests the Government to supply the text of the above-mentioned rules as soon as they are adopted and to continue to supply detailed information on the new situation regarding the public employment service in order to enable the Committee to assess whether the Convention which provides that the public employment service shall be free of charge (Article 1), in particular, with regard to its functions laid down in Article 6, is being implemented.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report. It notes, in particular, the adoption of the Act on an active labour market policy on 30 June 1993 which is described in the report as an element of the Government's general labour market reform. The Government indicates that under the provisions of the new Act the public employment service will be able to offer more flexible and individual offers and activities to the unemployed. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply a copy of this Act with its next report.

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's reply to its previous comments that under the Act on the public employment service and the unemployment insurance system, as amended by Act No. 840 of 20 December 1989, the public employment service may charge users for special services offered to enterprises and institutions. The Government indicates that there is a difference between the regions in the extent to which user payments have been introduced, but that most of the regions are offering special services of jobseeking activities and assistance to enterprises which plan large-scale dismissals. The Government also indicates that many of the regions offer planning of training activities and staff selection, and that other regions have introduced services such as staff selection in connection with recruitment of managers and specialists, or individual job counselling and planning of training to employees which have to be dismissed.

The Committee noted in its previous direct request that, under the above-mentioned Act, the Minister of Labour was authorized to introduce rules on user-payments for some special services rendered to the employers by the public employment service in connection with their education/training and staff planning activities, whereas the ordinary services of the public employment service continue to be free. The Committee requests the Government to supply the text of the above-mentioned rules as soon as they are adopted and to continue to supply detailed information on the new situation regarding the public employment service in order to enable the Committee to assess whether the Convention which provides that the public employment service shall be free of charge (Article 1), in particular, with regard to its functions laid down in Article 6, is being implemented.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government in its report. It notes, in particular, the amendment, in December 1989, of the Act on the public employment service and the unemployment insurance system, with a view to liberalise placement activities through the abolition of the approval scheme for private temporary employment agencies and placement activities. The Government indicates that the liberalisation of placement activities will contribute, in connection with the strengthening of the public employment service, to a more efficient solution of the tasks, and that private placement activities will be a supplement to the public employment service.

The Committee also notes from the Government's report that in connection with the amending act from December 1989 the Minister of Labour was authorised to introduce rules on user payment for some special services rendered to the employers by the public employment service in connection with their education/training and staff planning activities, whereas the ordinary services of the public employment service continue to be free. The Government indicates that provisions concerning this question will be laid down in the beginning of 1991.

The Committee has noted this information. It would be grateful if the Goverment would supply, in its next report, information on practical implementation of the above measures, as well as on any other measures aiming at the best possible organisation of the employment market, which shall be ensured by the public employment service in co-operation, where necessary, with other public or private bodies concerned, in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention. It asks the Government to supply the text of the amendment of the Act on the public employment service and unemployment insurance system, referred to in the report, as well as the text of the above-mentioned provisions concerning charging fees by the public employment service, when they are adopted.