Tactile Games, a Copenhagen-based mobile game developer, is facing increasing difficulties in hiring qualified foreign labor, threatening its presence in Denmark. The company, known for games like “Lily’s Garden” and “Simon’s Cat,” employs 220 people in Copenhagen and 140 more internationally, with 75% of its workforce coming from outside Denmark, representing 50 different nationalities. CEO Asbjørn Malte Søndergaard warns that if hiring foreign talent remains challenging, the company may relocate its headquarters.
The primary obstacle is Denmark’s strict regulations and lengthy processing times for work visas, particularly for those from outside Europe. Søndergaard criticizes the use of a salary threshold and the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration’s (SIRI) assessment of “usual” salaries, arguing that it’s problematic due to the niche positions they need to fill. He recounts an instance where an employee was dismissed because SIRI deemed their renewed salary insufficient, despite increased experience.
SIRI defends its practices, stating that each application is assessed individually to ensure fair Danish employment conditions, including salary. They use salary statistics from the Confederation of Danish Employers as a guideline. SIRI acknowledges longer processing times for applications covered by the association agreement with Turkey due to resource constraints.
Despite the challenges, employees from abroad value the work-life balance and opportunities Denmark offers. Felipe Fernández from Spain, and Ali Mert Sengun, Onur Koyuturk, and Ilayda Oral from Turkey, cite these as key reasons for relocating. Ilayda Oral also mentioned political concerns in Turkey influencing her decision.
The issue of foreign labor has sparked debate in Danish politics, with some parties advocating for easier immigration from certain countries while others express concerns about integration. Tactile Games rejects the idea of making it more difficult to hire from any country. Søndergaard emphasizes the lack of qualified Danish labor and the need for specialized skills, even seeking talent from countries like Turkey, where some of their biggest competitors are located.