The Conservative party in Denmark is proposing stricter regulations for foreign workers from the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey (MENAPT) region, aiming to increase the minimum salary requirement to 650,000 kroner. This initiative, dubbed the “Traffic Light Model,” seeks to differentiate countries based on their integration success in the Danish labor market.

The Conservatives acknowledge that this proposal may face resistance from Danish businesses that have relied on foreign labor. However, the party argues that Denmark’s long-term interests outweigh short-term economic gains.

The current regulations require non-EU foreigners to be offered an annual salary of at least 514,000 kroner to work in Denmark. The proposed “Traffic Light Model” would categorize countries into green, yellow, and red zones, each with varying minimum wage requirements.

Mette Abildgaard, a political spokesperson for the Conservatives, stated that this is not discrimination, but rather a targeted effort to attract qualified labor from countries with a proven track record of successful integration, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, and Australia. She emphasized that Denmark already employs a similar model for visa issuance.

In 2024, foreign labor contributed 361 billion kroner to Denmark’s GDP, which is a key indicator of the country’s economic size. Despite this contribution, the Conservatives believe that stricter regulations are necessary to address integration challenges.