Danish unemployment benefit reform around the corner

Established to propose a system which would see fewer unemployed people using their right to unemployment benefits, without impacting on employment rates or public finances.

Main elements:

• Maintain the existing demand for one year of employment in order to qualify for full unemployment benefit, but proposing to introduce a flexible qualification which would mean even just a few months of work could extend the benefit period. This should increase the incentive for accepting a job — including short term ones.
• A new calculation of the benefit level, based on hours not weeks.
• No benefit days, during which you would not receive unemployment benefits.
• Maintaining a two year unemployment benefit period.
• The commission was made up of four representatives from the social partners and five experts.