A political spokesperson from the Modernes party is publicly criticizing government partners in the Social Democrats over differing views on foreign labor. The dispute arose after two ministers visited the western suburbs of Copenhagen to highlight the challenges associated with foreign labor, sparking a debate within the coalition government.

The Modernes party argues that focusing solely on the negative aspects of foreign labor is a scare tactic and overlooks the significant economic contributions made by foreign workers. They emphasize the need to attract more foreign labor to Denmark, as outlined in the government platform.

The Minister for Immigration and Integration, along with the Minister for Children and Education, recently toured the western suburbs, pointing to increased costs for welfare, such as establishing new reception classes for children who don’t speak Danish. They expressed concerns about repeating past mistakes related to immigration from the 1960s.

Mohammad Rona, the Modernes’ spokesperson, suggests that a trip to Jutland would provide a more accurate picture of the benefits of foreign labor. He cited a specific example of a company in North Jutland that relies heavily on foreign workers and would face closure without them.

Rona emphasizes that foreign labor contributed significantly to Denmark’s GDP last year and advocates for easier access to foreign employees for companies with collective agreements. He acknowledges the challenges faced by municipalities in the western suburbs but argues that expelling foreign labor would worsen their situation.

While understanding the ministers’ concerns, Rona dismisses comparisons to the guest workers of the 1960s, highlighting existing rules that ensure foreign workers return home if unemployment rises in Denmark. He believes that the government should focus on attracting foreign labor while adhering to these regulations.