Living and Working conditions in general.

Salary and working hours

On the Danish labour market, terms of employment and salaries are generally regulated by collective agreements reached by trade unions and employer associations.

Thus, employment conditions are widely regulated by collective agreement reached by the various players in the labour market, for instance, they determine working hours, minimum salaries and terms of notice. For example, there is no legally stipulated minimum wage in Denmark. The parties have the responsibility of upholding these collective agreements.

The system of laws governing the labour market is underpinned by the fact that 60 percent of Danish workers are members of a trade union. Foreign workers can also become members of the Danish organisations.

In Denmark, it is only in exceptional cases that labour market conditions are regulated by law. However, there are minimum requirements set by law in some areas. Examples of these include: the Danish Holidays Act, the Danish Employment Contract Act, the Danish Act on Equal Treatment, the Danish Act on Allowance for Illness or Parental Leave, etc.

If an employer is not a member of an employer organisation or has concluded an adhesion agreement, the terms of employment are regulated by the contract agreed to between the employer and employee and the legally stipulated minimum requirements.

The main players in the labour market:

• LO (the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions)
• DA (the Confederation of Danish Employers)

Read more about trade unions (internt link til trade unions)

Picking of strawberries is piecework. Picking of apples, pears, cherries and similar fruit is paid either on a piecework basis or by the hour.

Working hours are normally between 25-37 hours a week but especially during the strawberry season, it may be less or more due to the weather conditions. Be prepared to be asked to start around 4 o´clock in the morning.

The specific working conditions and working hours will appear from your working contract.

You can read more about salary at 3Fs homepage or you can contact your local LO-department.