New laws
👩🍳 More jobs for young workers. New rules mean teens aged 13–15 can now take on more tasks in their part-time jobs, from peeling potatoes to making coffee. The changes have made it easier for businesses like McDonald’s to hire more young workers, as they can now do more than just wipe tables. The government hopes this will boost youth employment, while industry leaders see it as a way to ease labor shortages. More rule changes are expected in July 2025, further expanding opportunities for young workers.
📚 New high school rules & a new education path. From 2030, students will need a minimum grade average of six to enter STX (general high school) or HHX (business high school), up from the current five. Those with a seven in their final exams can still qualify, and entrance tests will have stricter requirements. Meanwhile, a new two-year education program, EPX, will replace HF and 10th grade, offering a more practical, profession-oriented path for students.
⚖️ Denmark’s new action plan against racism. After three years in the making, the government has unveiled a 36-point action plan to combat racism. One major initiative targets discrimination in nightlife: venues that repeatedly deny entry based on ethnicity could lose their alcohol license. Other measures include offering cultural sensitivity training for bouncers, funding school trips to concentration camps, and addressing racism against Greenlanders.
🇩🇰 Denmark is tightening laws against hate crimes. Parliament has passed new measures allowing police to impose 50% harsher sentences for hate crimes in designated periods or areas where incidents spike. The law also streamlines the removal of terror-related content online. These changes take effect on March 1, 2025.
Law proposals
🇪🇺 Denmark pushes for stricter EU rules against social dumping. Alongside six other countries, Denmark is pressuring the EU Commission to tighten regulations on posting third-country workers, ensuring better conditions and fair competition. The proposal calls for minimum employment requirements before workers can be relocated to another EU country. Posting of employees refers to the temporary assignment of workers by their employer to another EU state under the host state’s labor laws while maintaining social security in the home state.
Political scene
🇺🇸 U.S. troops in Denmark? Political debate heats up. The government remains committed to allowing U.S. troops to be stationed in Denmark, but Trump’s latest statements have some parties questioning the timing. Konservative (Conservatives) and Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals) still support the agreement but suggest delaying the final legal steps. Meanwhile, Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) outright opposes it, arguing the U.S. no longer acts as a reliable ally. The defense minister insists the plan must go forward, emphasizing Denmark’s long-standing security ties with the U.S.
