New measures to make it easier for companies to employ people from Ukraine

The new Act intends to make it as easy as possible for displaced people from Ukraine to obtain a special, temporary residence permit in Denmark. Simultaneously, the Act ensures that the case processing time for applicants from this group becomes significantly shorter than usual. The special rules will apply until 17 March 2024 with the possibility of extension.

Once a residence permit is granted under the special rules, an exemption automatically applies from the requirement to obtain a work permit. Companies wishing to employ displaced people from Ukraine can therefore begin the employment of new employees based on a residence permit alone.

In addition to the new rules, a partnership agreement between the social partners is meant to ensure that it will be easy to open a bank account, get a social security number and a tax card, attend courses to develop skills, Danish classes, etc.

No work permit requirement

Under the new rules, people who obtain a residence permit under the Act are exempt from the requirement for a work permit. This means that companies do not have to follow the usual procedure that would otherwise apply depending on the different schemes, such as requirements for salary levels after the pay limit scheme.

This exemption from the requirement for a work permit also means that special requirements for salary levels and employment terms do not apply. However, the partnership agreement focuses on this aspect, as one of its initiatives is to ensure a shared responsibility so that information on what normal working conditions in Denmark are and how the Danish labour market works.

IUNO’s opinion

The new rules and the partnership agreement are just part of the different measures introduced to ensure that people from Ukraine can get properly settled in Denmark.

IUNO recommends that companies read the new rules closely if it considers employing displaced people from Ukraine. Also, companies and the new employees should make sure to benefit from the initiatives introduced regarding Danish classes, etc., to ensure the best start possible.

We are following the situation closely.

[Act on temporary residence permit for displaced people from Ukraine of 16 March 2022 and Partnership agreement on employment of Ukrainians of 15 March 2022]