Last Week in Denmark (23.01 - 30.01) Episode 3 Year 2
The end of the pandemic! Labor shortage reform; Danish Home Guard; National debt
Editor HQ
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Public Health HQ
Congratulations! Thanks to everyone’s contribution, we achieved herd immunity and therefore COVID is no longer a threat to our healthcare system! From the 1st of February, COVID will be downgraded to a “common dangerous illness” and therefore all restrictions will be lifted.
Companies, private cultural institutions and associations can still ask (if they want) for a corona pass and mask.
However, it is important to note that COVID is still present in our lives, and will continue to infect people. The projections are at 55.000 infections per day until mid-February when it should start to decline. While most people are protected from needing to be hospitalized, there are still vulnerable people.
You still need covid pass and mask when you go to the hospital or elderly home.
The government will continue to monitor COVID as new dangerous mutations might appear in the future. Also, a permanent rapid-response plan will be put in place to deal with such mutations in the future. Vaccination remains our best protection against COVID, so the efforts to vaccinate everyone with the “booster” will continue.
The rules for getting tested and going into isolation if sick remain valid.
Travel rules from 1st of February:
Anyone from anywhere can enter Denmark with a covid pass (valid vaccination; previously infected; negative test).
COVID testing capacity is reduced from 500.000 tests per day to 200.000 from 7th February. The airport test centers will be closed from the 1st of February. It is no longer necessary to be tested to enter Denmark.
Danish Politics HQ
Denmark together with New Zealand and Finland are the least corrupt countries in the world, according to the annual index published by Transparency International.
The fall of DF: Once upon a time, DF was born from an anti-taxation movement. After they copy-pasted the social-democrat program and added their nationalistic view, they impacted the Danish politics for almost two decades. In the last decade, they slowly forgot about their social-democrat side and doubled down on their nationalistic side, placing themselves firmly in the “right-wing camp” of the “blue block”. However, the issue of “immigration” has lost importance over the years and now the party is fighting for survival. After elections last Sunday, they got a new president, Morten Messerschmidt (with 60% of the votes) who is still on trial for fraud.
Action plan against antisemitism: The government presented 15 initiatives this week. The action plan entails more research on antisemitism; compulsory teaching about the Holocaust in schools; dissemination of Danish-Jewish history; prevention of anti-semitism and protection of Danish Jews and Jewish institutions.
Non-EU agriculture trainees: The immigration minister, Mattias Tesfaye wants to extend the work permit for non-EU agriculture trainees from 12 to 18 months. For that, he will need a majority support in the Danish Parliament to make changes to the “Aliens Act”.
The leader of 3F trade union, Per Christensen, has resigned. Why? He was having two families at the same time. Until the congress in September, Tina Christensen will lead the trade union.
Danish support for Ukraine: The government decided to allocate 875 million dkk for the Eastern Neighborhood program, from which 550 million dkk will go to Ukraine. Denmark wants to support the Eastern European countries (Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan) in the process of fighting corruption, building up a civil society and democratic reform.
Danish Economy HQ
National debt: At the lowest level since 2009. 438 billion dkk (17,7% of the GDP). “The Economist” and a few financial institutions, have declared Denmark’s crisis management as one of the best in the world. Why? Denmark’s economy looks better now than before the pandemic.
If you use gas or your district heating uses gas to warm up your house, then you probably have been hit by a large heating bill. The government wants to provide a tax-free check for the 440,000 people that are in this situation. More details on this next week, as the negotiations are still ongoing between the government and the other parties.
Wolt-riders are employees: The Danish Tax Council (Skatterådet) has decided that the “delivery partners” of Wolt are in fact employees. This is a historical decision that will impact other similar platforms and their business models in general. The transition from “delivery partner” to “employee” also means sick leave, holiday pay, pension, certain tax deductions, etc. This is a victory for the trade unions in their war with unorganized platform work.
Esbjerg Municipality decided to hire 50 people on social support (kontanthjælp) to help with the disinfection of the “vuggestue” and kindergartens.
The Regional Council of South Denmark decided to raise the salary of the healthcare staff (4,500 people). They have allocated 70 million dkk for this raise. Why? They hope to retain staff and attract new people.
14 insurance companies have received fines between 100,000 and 1.4 million dkk from “National enhed for Særlig Kriminalitet” after being investigated for discrimination against female customers.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Climate updates: The number of charging stations for electric cars has increased by 68% in 2021. We now have 4828 around the country.
The Danish travel portal, Bookmundi, is the first one in the world to CO2 offset holidays. The company developed an algorithm that calculates the CO2 footprint for each trip sold. They invest in climate projects around the world to compensate for the CO2 emissions.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) has published The Official Dietary Guidelines. In summary, eat less meat for the good of the planet.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has announced the discovery of 224 new animal and plant species in Southeast Asia.
Sports updates: The badminton player Viktor Axelsen has been declared the Danish sportsman of 2021. Why? Nr.1 in world rankings and Olympic gold medal. This is the second time he has won this title.
Hobby updates: Legoland is looking for 40 skilled LEGO builders for an exhibition in their gallery. You can upload a picture of your abilities here until 28th February. Each of the chosen LEGO builders will receive 5 tickets to LEGOLAND.
Safety updates: Heat-seeking cameras will be installed in the Aarhus harbor. The cameras will automatically detect if a hot body is drowning in the cold water. This is done to increase safety after eight drowning accidents in the last five years.
European Union HQ
European Heritage Awards 2022: 30 outstanding heritage achievements will receive €10.000 each. The Awards celebrate and promote best practices related to heritage conservation, management, volunteering, research, education and communication. Check former winners here. Deadline to apply - 1st February.
EU Studies & Career Fair 2022 (Online): The annual meeting place for the world’s best universities / organizations and top international students / young professionals looking for a future in EU affairs and International Relations. When? 2-3 February. Register here.
Focus on your daily life
Worker shortage reform: The government with support from Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals), SF (Socialists), DF (National Conservatives) and K (Christian Democrats) has proposed a reform to bring 12.000 people more in employment and raise the national GDP by 17,5 billion dkk until 2030. However, many elements within the reform need support from the “opposition” parties due to older agreements on the respective fields. If the opposition parties do not agree, then the reform will be rediscussed after the next parliamentary election.
If you are going to graduate from your higher education after the 1st October 2022, then these rules will apply to you.
The unemployment benefits period is reduced to one year
If you didn’t have a job while studying, then you need to show a certain level of Danish to qualify for unemployment benefits (the level is still to be decided)
If you do not have children, then after 3 months your unemployment benefits will be reduced based on your age (under 30 years old - 9,514 dkk before tax; over 30 years old - 12,018 dkk before tax)
This applies to EU citizens (including Danish) and Non-EU who have the right to work in Denmark.
To encourage more students to work while they study, the reform includes a stipulation that you can earn more next to SU (4,000 dkk per month) from the 1st February 2022. Also, your higher income will not affect your free a-kasse membership.
If you have worked for at least two years and have been a member of an a-kasse for at least four, then you qualify for higher unemployment benefits in the first 3 months from 1st October 2022. (3,649 dkk more before tax)
If you have been on “kontanthjælp” (social support) for at least a year and then you got a job, you will receive a tax-free bonus of 5,000 dkk when you will celebrate 6 months of working.
If you are living in housing provided by your employer, then you should be aware that he is obligated to provide you with decent housing conditions. There will be controls from the relevant authorities in the next period. Also, the controls for illegal workers will intensify through a collaboration between SIRI, the police and other partners.
If you are a pensionist, you can consider getting a job from the 1st January 2023, as that extra income will no longer affect your pension amount. Also from 2023, your pension level will not be influenced by your partner's income.
From 2023, the yearly “green check” will no longer be given to non-pensionists. Already in 2022, the amount will be reduced by 50%. The “green check” has a value of 525 dkk (+extra 280 dkk for low income; +120 dkk for each child).
The tax on electricity will be reduced from the 1st July 2022 by 14 øre/kWh. The current tax is 90 øre/kWh.
Everything presented until here, needs to be first passed in the Danish Parliament, some even with a larger support from the “opposition” parties. We will keep you updated on changes.
Join Denmark
Are you hearing the drums of war and you feel unprepared? Do you find the gym expensive and ineffective? Do you have a hard time finding Danish friends? Then, check out the Danish Home Guard (Hjemmeværnet).
Who can apply? Anyone over 18 years old (no upper limit) that has lived in Denmark for at least 5 years (EU and non-EU) and speaks a modicum of Danish. You can apply here. Military background is not necessary.
The role of the Danish Home Guard is to support the activity of the Armed Forces (in Denmark and abroad), the police, the emergency services and other national authorities. It is a volunteer military organization with almost 50,000 members. You can join the Army Home Guard, the Navy Home Guard or the Air Home Guard.
Your activity within the Home Guard is unpaid. However, if you volunteer in a certain mission, you will get paid for the missed work hours. The uniform, equipment, training sessions and accommodation during the instruction is free of charge.
To be an active member, you need to volunteer at least 24 hours per year. However, if you haven’t done your army service (regardless of where), you have to complete 250 hours of training in the first three years. Also, in the first year, you will attend the Home Guard primary school (in your free time) which will give you skills in first aid, basic shooting, protection against chemical and biological attacks, etc.
Stories from our community
On 26th January, a historical moment happened at Aabenraa Local Council. Ovidiu George Nechitoi became the first Romanian to be part of a Danish local council and only the second non-Danish citizen ever (the first one was the Dutch mayor of Samsø).
Halima El Abassi stops as president of the National Integration Council. Why? The integration minister refused to allocate more resources and competencies to the council. The yearly budget of the council is 600,000 dkk.
The Romanian conductor Ion Marin replaced Nicholas Collon in leading the DR Symphony Orchestra for the Thursday concert on 20th January. You can listen here.
A Romanian intern helped the company HAI Horsens to overcome the current worker shortage crisis by recruiting 50 employees from her home country. Now, this achievement is given as an example to all companies. “You want to solve the problem, hire a Romanian with a large network.”