ABSTRACT
The starting point for the Danish industrial relations model was a conflict within the Danish labour market towards the end of the 19th century between employees and employers in the private sector. This chapter offers a brief review of a series of general characteristics in respect of the Danish labour market. It shows the employment structure in relation to the size of the workplace and the percentage of employees. Consequently, there has been a strong increase in the number of public servants in relation to the number of workers. The institutional framework for the Danish industrial relations model is widely based on the parties in the labour market. A large part of the limited labour legislation which exists in Denmark has thus been created on the basis of European Union Directives. The law of equality, the law of business transfers, the law of employee rights in connection with collective dismissals — all have a background of European Union Directives.
