Danish government faces backlash over proposed cuts to Working Environment Authority amidst asbestos scandal

Two days ago, it was revealed that the Danish Working Environment Authority intervened in a case involving young workers handling dangerous asbestos materials. Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen expressed that this was “the worst she has seen as a minister.” However, her outrage is criticized as hypocritical, especially as the government plans to cut funding to the authority. Peter Kofod, finance spokesperson for the Danish People’s Party, stated, “It screams of deep hypocrisy. One cannot be outraged on one side while proposing significant cuts to the authority’s funding.”

In 2024, the authority’s budget is set at 619.5 million kroner, though it is proposed to cut over 7.1 million kroner in 2025, and an additional 18 million annually thereafter. These cuts are part of a broader plan to reduce 1,000 full-time positions, amounting to savings of 500 million kroner. The government justifies these cuts as “targeting inspection efforts,” which may lead to fewer inspections in low-risk industries. Kofod disputed this reasoning, arguing that the authority does not monitor operations deemed safe in reality.

Lisbeth Bech-Nielsen, finance spokesperson for the Socialist Party, also condemned the cuts and emphasized that the recent issue, involving vulnerable children aged 12 to 16 working with hazardous materials at night, underscores the need for more funding rather than less. She called for the minister to reconsider the planned cuts.

In response, Minister Halsboe-Jørgensen deflected criticism, asserting that the cuts would not impact efforts against asbestos. She referred to recent legislation requiring companies to obtain authorization to work with asbestos and clarified that high-risk areas would remain a priority for the authority.