The Conservative party in Denmark is proposing stricter regulations for foreign workers from predominantly Muslim countries within the MENAPT region (Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey) seeking employment in the Danish labor market. Political spokesperson Mette Abildgaard announced the proposal to Berlingske, citing concerns that while these workers may initially fill valuable workforce needs, they can later pose integration challenges.

The Conservatives aim to implement a “Traffic Light Model” that categorizes countries into green, yellow, and red zones, dictating the minimum salary requirements for workers from each category. Specifically, the proposal suggests raising the minimum annual salary requirement for workers from MENAPT countries to DKK 650,000.

Currently, Danish regulations stipulate that non-EU foreigners must be offered an annual salary of at least DKK 514,000 to be eligible for employment in Denmark. The Conservatives argue that the current system does not adequately address the potential long-term consequences of immigration, suggesting that short-term business interests may not align with Denmark’s long-term interests.