Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Denmark (Ratification: 1960)

Statistics on equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee welcomes the detailed disaggregated statistics provided by the Government which show that in 2013 the employment rate of persons of Danish origin was 73.8 per cent (75.2 per cent for men and 72.4 per cent for women), compared to an employment rate of 47.7 per cent for immigrants from non-Western countries (52.9 per cent for men and 42.9 per cent for women) and an employment rate of 52.2 per cent for the descendants of immigrants from non-Western countries (52.3 per cent for men and 52.1 per cent for women). The statistics also show a much higher unemployment rate for immigrants from non-Western countries (13.2 per cent for men and 14 per cent for women), compared to Danish nationals (5.6 per cent for men and 5.5 per cent for women). The Committee notes that the Government adopted various measures aimed at increasing the labour force participation of immigrants and at combating discrimination and promoting diversity. In particular, the Committee notes the adoption in November 2012 of “a strengthened integration policy”, including initiatives to improve employment among immigrants, and the adoption of Act No. 1115 of 23 September 2013 consolidating Act No. 1035 on integration, which provides for a three-year introduction programme for immigrants, including career guidance and qualification, a trainee programme and wage subsidies. The Committee also notes that the Government’s National Reform Programme 2015 and the Government Plan of 2015 include new integration initiatives aiming to ensure that refugees and immigrants obtain employment as soon as possible. The Committee further notes that a four-party agreement on integration focusing on strengthening immigrants’ language skills and knowledge about vocational education was signed in June 2014 between the Government (Ministries of Employment and Education), Local Government Denmark, the Confederation of Danish Employers (DA) and the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO). The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the initiatives undertaken and the results achieved to improve the employment situation of men and women immigrants and their descendants from non-Western countries, irrespective of race, colour, religion or national extraction, including through the various integration initiatives. Please provide information on the participation of men and women immigrants in the introduction programme, including the provision of career guidance, training and wage subsidies, and their integration into the labour market. It also requests the Government to continue providing statistical information on employment and unemployment rates, disaggregated by sex and, to the extent possible, by origin. Please also provide information on the implementation of the four-party agreement and its impact on improving access to employment and vocational training for persons with a migration background.