Foreign labor is a crucial prerequisite for the economic growth that Denmark has experienced in recent years. But numbers matter when it comes to foreigners in Denmark. This is what Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) asserts in the Folketingshallen.
- It is of course positive that some want to contribute to Denmark, but also when it comes to foreign labor, numbers matter. Especially those from North Africa and the Middle East, says the Prime Minister.
The government is facing a new political effort regarding foreign labor. While the governing Moderate party is calling for a greater influx of international workers, the Social Democrats are concerned with controlling the number.
- Some of those who have come here recently have come to work in the health service, without the demand having increased, says Mette Frederiksen.
She believes that we should be pleased that more people are traveling to Denmark to work or study. But too many foreigners in Denmark can pose challenges, and the government has also been criticized by the right wing for the fact that the number of foreigners from the Menapt countries has increased during Mette Frederiksen's time. The category encompasses the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Turkey. The Prime Minister will address this.
- That is why we are tightening the rules so that there is a connection between how many we need and how many come.
The Prime Minister announces that foreign labor should preferably come from like-minded countries.
- In our eyes, in the future, we must orient ourselves more towards countries with whom we share a common interest and countries we trade with when it comes to foreign labor, she says.
Foreign labor contributes billions to GDP
Foreign labor is central to the growth that the Danish economy is experiencing in recent years. In 2024, foreign labor contributed DKK 361 billion to Denmark's gross domestic product (GDP), according to a calculation from the Danish Chamber of Commerce. The amount corresponds to around 12 percent of GDP last year.
In the government, Minister for the Elderly Mette Kierkgaard (M) has warned that more foreign health workers will be coming.
In ten years, there may be a shortage of up to 15,000 social and health assistants, and therefore the government will develop a reception package so that Indians and Filipinos will apply to Denmark to work, the Moderate Party's Minister for the Elderly said the other day.
Now, however, Mette Frederiksen is emphasizing that this must be done in a controlled manner.
/ritzau/
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