Denmark Confirms Deal To Recruit 1000 Foreign Health Workers 

Denmark’s government has announced a new agreement aimed at increasing migration for individuals seeking employment in the country’s social care sector.

In collaboration with a parliamentary majority, the agreement expands the positive list scheme to grant work permits for foreign workers, particularly care workers (“sosu-hjælpere” in Danish), addressing a projected shortage of 15,000 workers in the social care sector by 2035.

The initiative sets a quota to fill 1,000 positions with foreign staff through work permits granted via the positive list, marking a significant step in addressing Denmark’s labor shortage in the sector.

The agreement, announced by the Ministry of Education and Research, is a response to the projected shortage of 15,000 workers in Denmark’s social care sector by 2035.

The positive list scheme expansion allows foreign workers, particularly care workers, to obtain work permits, with a quota set to fill 1,000 positions.

The agreement sets a quota to recruit 1,000 foreign staff in the social care sector through work permits granted via the positive list. This move is seen as a crucial step in Denmark’s efforts to address its labor shortage in the sector.

Despite past skepticism from the governing Social Democrats about attracting additional foreign labor, the immigration minister emphasizes that the agreement is not a relaxation of immigration policy. He underscores the importance of separating immigration policy from foreign labor considerations.

Health and Interior Minister Sophie Løhde acknowledged the country’s need for more foreign talent in the health system.

She emphasized the importance of easier rules in the authorization process for skilled foreign nurses and doctors, proposing changes to expedite the approval of foreign medical credentials.

To facilitate the recruitment of foreign medical professionals, including doctors and nurses from non-EU countries, proposed changes include a shortcut authorization process. This expedited process allows concurrent evaluation at two hospitals for one year, reducing the overall authorization time