Denmark: transposing the European directive on agency work is becoming a tool against social dumping

Last week, the Minister of Labor introduced in Parliament the bill transposing the European directive on agency work into Danish law.  The primary goal is to grant agency workers fair working conditions by defining an “appropriate” framework for temporary work and to maintain the principle of equal treatment to curb social dumping which, in Denmark, often comes from temporary work agencies posting eastern European citizens in the country.  Therefore, exceptions to this principle will have to be listed in national collective agreements signed with the most representative trade unions and valid across the country.  This way, foreign TWAs will no longer be able to bring into Denmark the exceptions they enjoy in their countries, and their agency workers will have to be covered by the same rights as Danish workers.  (Ref.  130273)
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

“So far, agency workers have been the weak category of workers in the Danish labor market. But there has and has been social dumping in the sector and it is important to remember that many workers entered the labor market via this form of employment, which offers businesses the flexibility they need” declared Labor Minister Mette Frederiksen on April 17 when she introduced her bill in Parliament. The text transposes the European directive on agency work (2008/104/EC, see article No. 080986)

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
EU: social partners split over competitiveness and action on job quality
The European Trade Union Confederation and BusinessEurope have published their response to the consultation document on the European Commission's upcoming EU quality jobs initiative. The two...
4 February 2026
2026 TRENDS — Social dialogue, a major challenge in the deployment of AI in companies
mind RH is analysing the trends that will shape 2026. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a force that goes far beyond efficiency gains and productivity improvements. It is reshaping tasks...
4 February 2026
The major trends of 2026
New regulations coming into force, economic uncertainty, evolving skills requirements… More than ever, the HR function will play a strategic role within organizations in 2026. mind HR...
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
France: Crédit Agricole to tighten remote work rules
Crédit Agricole is to adopt stricter rules on remote work from mid-March onwards. The rules will be tightened for employees, but the maximum number of days working remotely will remain unchanged.
2
2026 TRENDS – Pay transparency becomes a reality for European companies
mind RH is taking a look at the trends that will shape 2026. Many countries remain behind schedule in transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, leaving companies in a state of uncertainty as...
27 January 2026
3
TRENDS IN 2026 — Reducing workplace absence at all costs: a major challenge for Europe
Workplace absence is on the rise across Europe, particularly among women, older employees and, since the Covid-19 pandemic, young people under the age of 30. Faced with this growing problem, some...
14 January 2026
4
Vincent Lecerf (Orange): “Equality and diversity are competitive advantages for us”
Following the signing of a new agreement on professional equality and diversity in December, the chief HR officer of French multinational telecommunications corporation Orange Group, Vincent...
13 January 2026
5
France: transposition of the pay transparency directive takes shape
The transposition of the European directive on pay transparency into French law is entering a decisive phase. The Minister of Labour, Jean-Pierre Farandou, wants to present the bill to Parliament...
21 January 2026
6
France: ‘bonus-malus’ system central to talks over short-term contracts
French social partners opened talks on 28 January 2026 on the regulation of short-term contracts, marking the start of a negotiating process set to continue with three further meetings in March...
29 January 2026