The Ministry of Labour participates in the work within the European Communities, the OECD, the ILO, the Council of Europe and in the Nordic co-operation
1.1.7.1. Nordic Council
Danish membership of the common Nordic labour market means that citizens of other Nordic countries have the right to reside and take up employment in other Nordic countries without having to obtain work and residence permits. The Nordic countries co-operate closely in the field of labour market issues.
The formalised co-operation according to the terms of the Nordic Co-operation Agreement includes the Nordic Council, consisting of members of the Nordic parliaments, and the Nordic Council of Ministers (the co-operation ministers and the relevant ministries).
The Nordic ministers of labour normally meet once a year. The Nordic Council of Ministers (the ministers of labour) is assisted - as are other councils of ministers - by a committee of government officials. Furthermore, a number of committees of civil servants deal with such matters as health and safety at work, labour law and labour market policy. EU matters are dealt with by a special Nordic coordination group.
1.1.7.2. The European Union
EU co-operation is not only a direct co-operation between the governments of the member states, but also involves the social partners in advisory and decision-making processes, on both a national and Community level.
In Denmark the first body in the decision-making process concerning a proposal made by the Commission in the labour market or social field is the special parliamentary EU Committee concerning labour market and social affairs. In addition to the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Affairs, this Committee has the following permanent members: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Housing. The Danish Employers' Confederation, the Federation of Danish Trade Unions and the Federation of Salaried Employees' and Public Servants' Organisations are all affiliated to this Committee. The Committee establishes the Danish attitude towards proposals from the Commission and the views of the social partners play an important role in the discussions. The parties thus have the opportunity to express their views at a very early stage in the national decision-making process on proposals concerning the labour market and social conditions.
After the hearing in the special EU Committee the proposal in question will follow the normal route through the ordinary EU Committee, the Common Market Committee of the Government and the parliamentary Common Market Committee.
1.1.7.3. The International Labour Organisation
The most representative labour market organisations which the Ministry of Labour consults on ILO matters are:
- The Danish Employers' Confederation,
- The Federation of Danish Trade Unions,
- The Federation of Danish Public Servants' and Salaried Employees' Organisations,
- AC (Central Organisation of Academic Staff)
Co-operation between the representatives of the Government, the employers and the employees on matters concerning the activities of the International Labour Organisation takes place within the framework of the permanent ILO committee set up under the Ministry of Labour.
The permanent ILO committee is composed of representatives of the Danish Employers' Confederation (3), the Federation of Danish Trade Unions (2), the Federation of Danish Public Servants' and Salaried Employees' Organisations (1), the AC (1) and the Ministry of Labour. The representatives are appointed on the recommendation of the organisations concerned. The Ministry of Labour assumes all secretarial functions and the presidency of the ILO committee. The permanent ILO committee meets about three times a year, normally prior to the meetings of the ILO Governing Body.
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