medborger_i_danmark_engelsk.pdf - Ny i Danmark

87Most people join atrade unionOrderly conditionsensuredVoluntary unionismTrade unionsDenmark has a long tradition for wageand salary earners to join a trade union.The trade unions safeguard the interestsof the members vis-à-vis the employersand ensure that they work underreasonable pay and working conditions.The employers are also to a large extentorganised in employers’ associations. Mostemployers cooperate with the tradeunions. They consider it an advantage tobusiness to ensure the welfare and safetyof their employees and to have orderlyconditions with respect to such issues aswage increases, strikes and working hours.Denmark has freedom of association.Therefore, no employer can forbid anemployee to join a trade union. On theother hand, your fellow employees cannotrequire you to do so. At most workplaces,however, your co-employees expect you tobe a member of the trade union withwhom the employer has signed a collectiveagreement.This is because they are afraidthat it may otherwise be difficult to ensurereasonable pay and working conditions.Which, if any, trade union to join dependson your trade or profession.When you joina trade union, you pay a membership fee.If you become unemployedIf you lose your job after you have becomeinsured against unemployment, you shouldobserve the following:• Contact the Employment Service in thearea where you live.• Here you will be registered as unemployedand get a benefit card, which you mustpresent when you collect your benefit from the unemploymentinsurance fund.• You must be available for the labour market.This means thatyou must accept any job offer at one day’s notice.• You must make an effort to find a job while receiving benefits.• If you cannot find a job, the Employment Service is required tooffer you an activation programme designed to improve yourqualifications, for example, through training courses or a traineeshipwith a company.Unemployment insuranceOnce you get a job, it is a good idea tocontribute to an unemployment insurancefund*. This entitles you to help andfinancial assistance in the form ofunemployment benefit* if you lose yourjob. Both trade union contributions andunemployment insurance payments aretax deductible.You must have contributed to anunemployment insurance fund for oneyear before you can claim unemploymentbenefits.JOBS AND THE LABOUR MARKET