Mr. Hansen, The National Labour Market Authority (AMS) in Denmark is going to talk about the status and perspectives of the work force model in Denmark, called the Danish flexicurity model.
Flexibility x Security = Flexicurity. The Danish ‘flexicurity model’ is a combination of easy hiring and firing, unemployment benefits and an active labour market policy, a model that is characterized for combining low protection against dismissal with high unemployment benefit and activation measures. This model encompasses a flexible workforce, low levels of state-produced and paralyzing social legislation but still upholds high levels of social protection without paralysing the labour market.
The Danish labor market is one of most developed of Europe, with a high rate of occupation, and in this context, flexicurity seems to be the reason. Flexible rules of employment, active labour market policies with the right and duty to training and job offers, relatively high benefits and a favourable business cycle lasting a decade have repeatedly been offered as explanations for this development.
Leif Christian Hansen will share with us this model, its consequences and its future.
Leif Christian Hansen holds a degree in Economics at the University of Copenhagen.
He is Senior Adviser and international adviser to the Director General of the National Labour Market Authority (AMS) with the responsibility for AMS’ participation in the EU Cooperation of the Heads of Public Employment Service. He is responsible for AMS’ participation in the Nordic Cooperation and in the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES) as well.
He has been member of several committees and working groups within EU, OECD and the Nordic Cooperation. 1989 – 1995 he was Head of Department in the Nordic Council of Ministers.
