Background information

On a press meeting on 4 November 2020 the Danish Government decided that all minks in Denmark (around 15 million) should be put down due to a continuously rapid spread of COVID-19 mutation in mink populations. The mutation spread to the human population and showed reduced sensitivity to antibodies. The decision rendered many in the mink industry unemployed.

Content of measure

The Danish Parliament agreed, after urgent treatment, on a bill of DKK 50 million for the upskilling of former employees in the mink industry and follow-up industries. The measure is a result of the Agreement on compensation etc. for mink farmers and follow-up industries affected by COVID-19, which was concluded between the Government and parties at the end of January

The bill entitles unemployed former employees in the mink industry and follow-up industries to all types of training immediately, whether public or private providers in Denmark, and there is no maximum price for the chosen skill programme.

In order to receive grants for upskilling, the following criteria have to be met:

• The offer must be granted by 31 December 2021 and start before 1 April 2022.
• The person must sign a solemn declaration that he or she has worked in the mink industry or in a follow-up occupation for all or part of the period from 1 January 2020 until 22 March 2021

It was passed on 16 March 2021 and will enter in to force from 23 March 2021 and for the remainder of the year.

Use of measure

No numbers are recorded yet, as it is a new measure. Numbers from the Danish Statistical Bureau put around 3,000 employees in the business in 2019, and these are potential users of the measure.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

No views.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 28 October 2020: Facts about the mink industry in Denmark (www.dst.dk)
• 16 March 2021: L 186 Draft law amending the Active Employment Act and the Active Social Policy Act. (www.ft.dk)
• 20 March 2021: LAW No 466 (www.retsinformation.dk)
• 23 March 2021: DKK 50 million for the upskilling of unemployed from the mink industry (bm.dk)