New apprenticeship scheme gets lukewarm take-up, hospital porters back at work, freezing temperatures this weekend and more news from Denmark on Friday.
Education minister wants more use of apprenticeship scheme
Minister for Children and Education Mattias Tesfaye is concerned that some pupils are not being offered the chance to take part in a new junior apprenticeship programme, he has stated in a written response to a parliamentary question.
Tesfaye has contacted municipal councils across the country “to make them aware of the scheme” and encourage them to use it, news wire Ritzau reports.
Pupils in grades 8 and 9 (age 14-16) can, from this school year, take part in the new apprenticeship scheme, which was set up through a school reform passed in March 2024.
Under the scheme, pupils spend part of the week working at a company or organisation instead of being in the classroom.
“I have been puzzled by the large variation in the number of junior apprentices across the country’s municipalities,” Tesfaye is reported to state in the parliament memo.
“I share the questioner’s concern that some pupils are not being offered the opportunity because certain municipalities have been slow to get started,” he said.
Copenhagen hospital porters return to work after strike
Porters at Copenhagen’s Rigshospitalet resumed work on Thursday following a strike which lasted two days.
The trade union for the porters, FOA 1, confirmed that they had resumed work after hospital management on Thursday presented an action plan aimed at improving working conditions.
Ken Petersson, the local chairperson with FOA 1, told news wire Ritzau the plan is intended to “ensure better cooperation between union representatives, employees, management and HR.”
Rigshospitalet meanwhile welcomed the porters’ decision to resume work.
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Temperature could fall below freezing this weekend
This coming weekend could bring the lowest temperatures of the autumn so far, with -1 degree expected on Saturday night and icy roads possible in some areas.
“I think we’ll see temperatures drop to around minus one. And we can’t rule out some frost on the roads on Saturday morning,” meteorologist Martin Lindberg from the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) told news wire Ritzau.
The cold weather will set in from Friday, Lindberg said.
“A fairly cold and unstable air mass will move down over the country from the north today. Showers will move throughout the day from Vendsyssel in North Jutland towards eastern parts of the country,” the meteorologist said.
READ ALSO: What are Denmark’s new rules on winter tyres and when should you change?
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Police to ramp up efforts against harassment ahead of local elections
Police in Denmark say they will protect political figures from harassment and threats in the lead-up to local and regional elections in November.
The statements from the Danish police come after a high-profile politician in neighbouring Sweden, Centre Party leader Anna-Karin Hatt, this week announced she will step down due to hatred and threats received in the past few months.
In a statement, the National Police (Rigspolitiet) stressed that all politicians should be able to participate in democracy safely.
Specifically, the Police will establish a national registry of all reports of potential offences relating to threats and harassment related to people who take part in public debate.