The Danish government’s recent proposal to significantly lower the salary threshold for foreign workers has ignited a wave of controversy, particularly surrounding the Social Democratic Party’s perceived hypocrisy on the issue. The plan, presented by the three government parties, aims to allow companies to employ workers from 16 selected countries, including China, Albania, and Brazil, at an annual salary of just 300,000 kroner (25,000 per month), a substantial decrease from the current limit of 514,000 kroner.

The business sector has largely welcomed the proposal, anticipating an influx of low-wage labor for industries such as service, hospitality, and retail. Christina Egelund of the Modernes party hailed the easing as “a huge breakthrough.” While the Ministry of Finance estimates a workforce expansion of only 550, Minister of Economy Stephanie Lose considers it “not a small agreement.”

However, the Social Democrats, the leading party in the government, face criticism for what appears to be a complete reversal of their recent stance on labor import. Over the past six months, prominent Social Democratic ministers, including Minister for Employment Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, have voiced concerns about the impact of foreign labor on Danish values, culture, and cohesion. Minister for Immigration and Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek even drew parallels between the current situation and the guest worker programs of the past.

This sudden shift in policy has provided ammunition for the Social Democrats’ political rivals, particularly the Danish People’s Party. Morten Messerschmidt has condemned the relaxations as “both skewed and harmful,” highlighting the apparent contradiction between the party’s previous rhetoric and its current actions. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Social Democrats have been aware of the impending relaxations since the government platform was established two and a half years ago.