Danish National Action Plan for employment submitted

The Danish National Action Plan for employment, drawn up in response to the EU Employment Guidelines for 1998, has been submitted prior to the June 1998 summit meeting in Cardiff, at which the European Council discussed the Member States' employment plans.

The making of the Danish National Action Plan (NAP) for employment, drawn up in response to the EU Employment Guidelines for 1998, was interrupted by the general election which was called on 19 February and took place on 11 March 1998. In addition, it was the intention of the Ministry of Labour to be among the first countries to hand in their NAP. All in all, this meant that the social partners had little time to consult with their affiliates and comment properly on the NAP, which was adopted and submitted for discussion at the Cardiff European Council meeting in June 1998.

Since labour market policies are principally a governmental area of responsibility, the obligations being on the government and not the social partners, some of the latter apparently feel little inclined to take part or even legitimise the government's policy in the area of employment.

The number of employed persons has increased by 170,000 persons, or 6.5%, over recent years. The unemployment rate has been reduced to the lowest in 18 years (7.1% or 197,500 unemployed persons in February 1998). Long-term unemployment has been reduced by 50% over five years and youth unemployment has dropped to less than 5%. In the new Government's policy-plan Denmark - year 2005, it is an objective to increase employment by a further 200,000 persons, thereby reducing unemployment to 5% (3% according to the EU's definition). Offers of "activating" measures will be further advanced in accordance with the EU guidelines.

It is the Government's objective to be in the front rank of the EU Member States which meet the objectives agreed upon at the Luxembourg Employment Summit on 20-21 November 1997 (EU9711168F). To meet two of the employment objectives, the Ministry of Labour has to find means to offer a new start for approximately 5,000 young unemployed people. Furthermore 50,000 unemployed people over the age of 25 are to start training or find jobs. The recommendation that 20% of all unemployed people receive training is already met in Denmark. Of the approximately 600,000 persons who are unemployed for a shorter period during the course of a year, some 150,000 or 25% participate in training.