LABOUR MARKET LEGISLATION

The Government of Greenland manages most of the labour market area with a main focus on placement service, job creation programmes, and regulation of the accession of foreign workers.

The area is under the Ministry of Trade and Labour.

A few areas with relevance for employment matters are placed under other ministries and two areas are placed under the Danish state.

The general management of placement service, employment, and the accession of labour to Greenland is regulated in the parliamentary order no. 10 of 18 December 2003 on placement service etc. and in the parliamentary order no. 27 of 30 October 1992 on the regulation of the accession of labour to Greenland. Furthermore the departmental order no. 24 of 26 August 1993 on the regulation of the accession of labour to Greenland is in effect. The practical tasks are handled by the Ministry of Trade and Labour and partly by the municipal labour market departments.

The municipal tasks consist in offering placement service and vocational and educational guidance and in establishing and carrying out job creation programmes as well as information service for and registration of the unemployed.

In the spring of 2006, the tasks were handed over to local guidance and introduction centres (Piareersarfiit).

Legislation on work environment and the Work Environment Supervisory Authority is handled by the Danish state. The unions and the employers' organizations are represented in the Greenlandic Work Environment Council.

The parliamentary order No. 21 of 18 December 2003 on the public servants in the Home Rule  Government and in the municipalities is in effect for public servants of the Greenlandic government and municipalities but not for public servants of the Danish government.

The labour court for public servants of the government of Greenland and the municipalities is placed under the Danish state. The Greenlandic and the Danish legislation on personnel is harmonised as much as possible to ensure uniform terms of employment.

All other conditions are regulated by agreement between unions and employers' organisations. There is no legislation for salaried employees or labour courts. Disputes between parties with regard to collective agreements are therefore typically settled by arbitration.

Links

Read more about the Ministry for Trade and Labour Market at www.naalakkersuisut.gl

Read more about the guidance and introduction centres at www.naalakkersuisut.gl

Read more about the Work Environment Supervisory Authority and the Greenlandic Work Environment Council at www.at.gl