According to DR, new rules will come into effect on January 1, 2026, allowing young people under 18 and part-time workers to operate machinery in the industrial sector, something previously largely prohibited. Read more after the announcement.
Expanding job opportunities for young people under the age of 18
According to the source, part-time work opens up an opportunity for young people to earn extra income and acquire essential professional habits such as punctuality and responsibility. With the start of the new year, regulatory amendments are coming into effect that aim to expand job opportunities for the 13-17 age group, including work in some areas of industry.
Changing the perception of working with machines
According to DR, Dan Mikkelsen, secretary of the Environment and Labor Secretariat at the Danish Metalworkers' Union, confirmed that the machines themselves do not pose a danger, explaining that the danger arises when a person does not know how to handle them correctly. He pointed out that the modifications do not mean abandoning safety standards, but rather focus on training and knowledge.
Welcome from the business sector
Peter Kristiansen, a financial controller at Esbjerg Gods, expressed his satisfaction with the changes, emphasizing the company's desire to attract more young employees to its facilities. He stated that young people are intelligent and energetic, and in return, they receive a good opportunity to earn money, according to the source.
Lifting the ban on the use of machines
The new rules abolished the previous ban that prevented young workers under the age of 18 from using simple machines such as cleaning machines or lawnmowers, and starting next year, they will be able to use this equipment within an organized framework and under supervision.
Re-employment of dismissed youth
Esbjerg Goods CEO Kristian Petersen explained that the changes will allow young part-time workers to use electric lifts and unload trailers in the future. He added that the company had to lay off 27 young employees a few months ago because their work conflicted with the previous regulations, and expressed hope that they would be reinstated once the new rules take effect.
Part-time work as an entry point to vocational training
According to the source, Peter Christiansen pointed out that these rules also constitute an effective way to discover potential trainees, as young people become familiar with the industrial sector through them and may find a future career path in it.
Emphasis on safety and zero tolerance
Kristian Petersen emphasized that allowing young people to use the equipment would not be at the expense of safety, explaining that supervision would always be present, and that it was not like leaving the field open without supervision.
The unions' stance on the amendments
Dan Mikkelsen of the Metalworkers' Union emphasized that the changes do not reduce safety levels, explaining that employers will bear greater responsibility for assessing risks and regulating how young people operate machinery. He stressed that safety is achieved through proper assessment and appropriate training.
Broader government goals
These changes are the final component of a multi-pronged government initiative aimed at increasing the number of young people working part-time. The government seeks to raise the proportion of young workers in the industrial sector, which currently stands at just 31%, compared to approximately one in five young people working in supermarkets, according to DR.
Agreement between the government and labor market stakeholders
The government reached an agreement on the new rules in cooperation with labor market stakeholders. This agreement is the final stage in a package of measures aimed at expanding part-time employment opportunities for young people. The Danish Ministry of Employment (Beskæftigelsesministeriet) explained that the goal of these rules is to strike a balance between safety and expanding employment opportunities for young people.
Details of the new rules
The amendments, which come into effect on January 1st, are based on three main pillars.
First, the employer is required to conduct a specific risk assessment related to the use of technical equipment and machinery by young people under the age of 18, to ensure a safe and healthy working environment.
Secondly, some restrictions relating to young people’s handling of specific materials and chemicals remain in place in accordance with EU directives, while materials not included in the list of restrictions are subject to the same risk assessment.
Third, young people aged 13 and 14 during their practical training periods in companies are subject to the same general rules regarding risk assessment when using equipment and materials.
Source: Ministry of Labor
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