Denmark to exclude children of diplomats from compulsory employment regulations
Denmark to Exempt Children of Diplomats from Work Requirement for Immigrants
The Danish government has decided to exempt the children of diplomats from a work requirement rule aimed at immigrants who receive social welfare benefits. This exemption comes after concerns were raised about the rule unintentionally affecting children who arrived in Denmark as immigrants.
The work requirement was initially announced in 2024, with implementation scheduled for this year in two stages. It is part of the government's efforts to encourage low-employment immigrants to join the workforce. However, the rule has faced criticism due to its unintended consequences.
In January of this year, the first stage of the regulation began. It involves a requirement for certain immigrants to work 37 hours per week at unskilled municipal jobs in order to receive the basic level of unemployment benefits. This regiment is separate from a higher-tier benefit, 'dagpenge', which provides a more substantial safety net and requires membership in a semi-private A-kasse unemployment insurance provider.
Initially, the rule was criticized by adopted immigrants, who felt it marginalized them and implied they were not truly Danish. Further analysis revealed that the rule affected other groups as well, including children of diplomats.
In response, employment minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen made an exemption for adopted persons and has now extended it to the children of Danish diplomats. Additionally, children born via surrogacy will also be exempt from the work requirement.
However, the rule still applies to other groups, such as Danes who have been abroad for more than 12 months and their children. The government has concluded that there are no legal grounds to treat returning Danes differently from foreigners newly arriving in Denmark.
Previously, the work requirement applied to all individuals in the social welfare system who did not meet two criteria: residence in Denmark for at least 9 of the last 10 years and full-time employment for at least 2.5 of the last 10 years. The requirement can be fulfilled through employment-focused activities, such as internships, community service jobs, wage-subsidized employment, and certain training and skills development programs.
The exemptions for children of diplomats and adopted immigrants are the latest adjustments to the work requirement rule. The government will continue to assess its impact and consider further modifications as needed.
Danish immigration policies have seen several changes in recent years. In May 2025, restrictions were imposed on international students in non-state-approved programs. They are now prohibited from working while studying, and family reunification is no longer allowed for them or their children. However, existing permit holders and students in state-approved programs are exempt from these changes.
Regarding children of immigrants, general integration policies require access to education and language training. Family reunification is still permitted but is limited for students in non-state-approved programs.
- In contrast to the work requirement rule for immigrants, the Danish government has made an exemption for the children of diplomats, recognizing the unique circumstances they may face in meeting such requirements.
- Amidst criticisms of the work requirement policy-and-legislation, affecting various groups unintentionally, the Danish government has extended exemptions to include not only adopted immigrants but also the children of Danish diplomats and those born via surrogacy.
- In the realm of space for debate and policy modification, the Danish government is continuously assessing the impact of the work requirement rule for immigrants, with a view to making additional adjustments as necessary, reflecting the broader landscape of ongoing changes in Denmark's immigration policies.
