Unemployment insurance / Trades Union

Employees starting work in the majority of European countries are automatically insured against unemployment. In Denmark, however, this is not the case.

It is therefore important that you remember to contribute to an unemployment insurance fund (A-kasse). If you work in Denmark and are not a member of an A-kasse, problems can arise if/when you later return to your home country.
 

The Danish job market is strictly regulated by the market itself rather than by government legislation. The Danish model means that employers' and workers' organisations reach voluntary agreements on pay and working conditions. Trade unions play a central role in the Danish job market. Many workers belong to a union in Denmark and the majority of companies belong to an employers' association.
 

A union helps with cases relating to pay and working conditions and can help in the event of work-related injuries, rehabilitation and more. Some unions also offer personal counselling and career guidance, or offer benefits in the form of discount cards for fuel, shopping malls, insurance, etc. The benefits offered by unions vary from one region to the next.

The choice of union depends on your education/position and individual company. Unions are linked to an associated industry A-kasse, but membership of both a union and A-kasse is not compulsory – an employee may decide that membership of either a union or an A-kasse is sufficient for their needs.
 

Seniority from EEA countries

Citizens of other EEA countries (see list below) are able to transfer insurance contributions made previously in their home country. Such contributions must be documented on an E301 certificate. You MUST send your application to the appropriate Danish A-kasse no later than eight weeks after your insurance in the other EEA country has expired.
 

The EEA countries are Belgium, Denmark, United Kingdom (and Gibraltar), France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Luxemburg, Austria and Lichtenstein, Cyprus (only Greek Cyprus), Estonia, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

Switzerland entered into an agreement with the EU on 1 June 2002, which, apart from some minor exceptions, is the same as the EEA agreement.
 

Home contents, car and accident insurance

All workers are covered by mandatory employer insurance but it is important to also be covered by personal third-party insurance outside working hours. Ensure that you have adequate home contents/accident/car insurance, etc.
 

When you take out home contents insurance, you can have your furniture, books, clothes, music system, television and many other items replaced, if they are stolen or suffer, for example, fire or water damage. To be covered by insurance, any theft must be reported immediately to the police.
 

You can find links to insurance companies by searching for "forsikringsselskaber" at www.degulesider.dk.