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Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Denmark (RATIFICATION: 1988)

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Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics.Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that statistics on the economically active population, employment and unemployment are collected from the European Labour Force Survey (ELFS). The most recent data available from the ELFS refers to 2021. The Government indicates that the statistics in accordance with Articles 7 and 8 continue to bederived from four sources: the sample-based Labour Force Survey (LFS), the register-based Labour Force Statistics, the Working Time Account and register-based Unemployment Statistics. In addition, the Government provides information regarding the methodology used and data collected from each of the sources listed. The Government notes that the Labour Force Survey follows the EU guidelines and ILO standards and guidelines. The LFS has been conducted yearly since 1984. As of 1994, the LFS has been conducted continuously throughout the year. The Government adds that from January 2007, the LFS has been expanded considerably. Since 2021, it has been expanded to cover persons 15 to 89 years of age (previously it covered persons aged 15 to 74). With respect to Article 8, the Government indicates that the source of detailed population statistics is the register-based labour force statistics (RAS and KAS statistics), conducted since 1981. The Government notes that the concepts and definition in ILO’s guidelines from 1982 are followed to a great extent. The statistics provide information on the annual status of the population’s attachment to the labour market at a given point in time at the end of November. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated data and methodological information required under Articles 7 and 8. In addition, it requests the Government to continue to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution on statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I) adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013) and the Resolution on statistics on work relationships (Resolution I) adopted by the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2018).

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee welcomes the updated information provided by the Government on the production of statistics on industrial disputes. It notes that Statistics Denmark continues to compile and disseminate statistics on industrial disputes on an annual basis and provides information to the ILO Department of Statistics (ILOSTAT) through its annual questionnaire. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated statistics of industrial disputes as well as provide information on any further developments in relation to the compilation of these statistics under Article 15 of the Convention.

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The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that, with regard to Articles 9(1), 10 and 11 of the Convention, the Government provided information on three sources for statistics: structural earnings statistics, the Labour Force Survey, and working-time accounts. With regard to Article 14, the Committee notes that the Government has provided data on occupational injuries referring to the years 2011 and 2012, in reply to the ILO Department of Statistics’ annual questionnaire on labour statistics. Moreover, the Committee recalls that statistics of time rates of wages (Article 9(2)) are not compiled, in accordance with Article 17(1) of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any changes made in regard to the application of these provisions, including any developments made to extend the coverage of application of Article 9(2).

Article 7 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. The Committee notes the methodological information on the Labour Force Survey, the register-based labour force statistics and the register-based unemployment statistics. It also notes that statistics collected from the Labour Force Survey on the economically active population, employment and unemployment are published on the Statistics Denmark website. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments towards the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Article 8. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that the register-based labour force statistics, which has been conducted since 1981, is the source of detailed population statistics. The register-based labour force statistics provide the annual status of the Danish population’s participation in the labour market. The population consists of all residents in Denmark and contains unique identifiers for all persons and workplaces. The Government indicates that in the register-based labour force statistics the population is divided into three main groups (persons in employment, unemployed persons, and persons outside the labour force) according to ILO guidelines. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments towards the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee notes the updated information provided on the production of industrial disputes statistics. It notes that the collection of these statistics used to be based on reports from approximately 25 major public and private employers and employers’ organizations and that the number of such reports has decreased to approximately 20. Statistics Denmark compiles and disseminates statistics on industrial disputes on an annual basis, and the latest available data refer to 2013. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any further changes in the compilation of statistics of industrial disputes.

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Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report received on 21 September 2009.

Articles 9(1), 10 and 11 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the statistics of hours actually worked (Article 11) are now available from the Labour Force Survey, and that the production of the “Working Hours Accounts” has been finalized. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide to the ILO the relevant available series for publication in the Yearbook of Labour Statistics.

With regard to Article 9(2), the Committee draws the attention of the Government to the new international standards concerning the measurement of working time (see Resolution I, adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, whose larger number of concepts and measures would seem to be better aligned to national practice, accessible via www.ilo.org/global/
What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm).

Article 14. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide regular and up to date statistics on occupational injuries, for publication in the ILO Yearbook of Labour Statistics and on LABORSTA.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the Government’s report, and in particular the information supplied in reply to the previous request regarding absence from work due to occupational injuries and occupational diseases (Article 14 of the Convention). It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 7. The Committee draws the attention of the Government to the obligation to communicate data to the ILO as soon as practicable (in accordance with Article 5), including, for instance, the update of the series on paid employment in manufacturing - derived from a survey of establishments employing six or more persons.

Article 8. The Committee notes the Government’s reply to the previous request. It notes with interest that the structure and distribution of the economically active population are compiled from the "register-based labour force statistics", reflecting all the distributions recommended in the ILO Recommendation No. 170.

Articles 9, 10 and 11. The Committee notes that, apparently, annual statistics of average earnings, hours of work, wage structure and distribution, and labour cost form part of an annual programme of structural wages, which covers all major economic activities and represents the whole country. The Committee takes note of the development of the annual structural programme which is assumed to provide the statistics referred to under Articles 9(1), 10 and 11. However, it also draws the Government’s attention to the unavailability of current and up-to-date statistics on average earnings, hours of work and labour cost, due to the extensive time-lag between compilation and dissemination of the statistics. The publications mentioned in the report do not seem to be received in the ILO. The Committee also recalls the requirements of Article 5, to communicate to the ILO, as soon as practicable, the statistics compiled in pursuance of these Articles, including the relevant publications and methodological information on concepts, definitions, scope and method of the survey, etc. (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 13. The Committee asks the Government to transmit to the ILO the published data on income and expenditure together with the reference information on their publications (in accordance with Article 5).

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The Committee notes the Government's report, and in particular the information supplied in reply to the previous request regarding absence from work due to occupational injuries and occupational diseases (Article 14 of the Convention). It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 7. The Committee draws the attention of the Government to the obligation to communicate data to the ILO as soon as practicable (in accordance with Article 5), including, for instance, the update of the series on paid employment in manufacturing -- derived from a survey of establishments employing six or more persons.

Article 8. The Committee notes the Government's reply to the previous request. It notes with interest that the structure and distribution of the economically active population are compiled from the "register-based labour force statistics", reflecting all the distributions recommended in the ILO Recommendation No. 170.

Articles 9, 10 and 11. The Committee notes that, apparently, annual statistics of average earnings, hours of work, wage structure and distribution, and labour cost form part of an annual programme of structural wages, which covers all major economic activities and represents the whole country. The Committee takes note of the development of the annual structural programme which is assumed to provide the statistics referred to under Articles 9(1), 10 and 11. However, it also draws the Government's attention to the unavailability of current and up-to-date statistics on average earnings, hours of work and labour cost, due to the extensive time-lag between compilation and dissemination of the statistics. The publications mentioned in the report do not seem to be received in the ILO. The Committee also recalls the requirements of Article 5, to communicate to the ILO, as soon as practicable, the statistics compiled in pursuance of these Articles, including the relevant publications and methodological information on concepts, definitions, scope and method of the survey, etc. (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 13. The Committee asks the Government to transmit to the ILO the published data on income and expenditure together with the reference information on their publications (in accordance with Article 5).

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The Committee notes the Government's second report, in particular the information on the application of Article 2 of the Convention.

Article 8. The Committee requests the Government to communicate to the ILO the published data and methodological information concerning the statistics of the structure of population and economically active population derived from administrative registers (in accordance with Articles 5 and 6).

Articles 9, 10 and 11. The Committee notes with interest the changes brought to the system of wage statistics: the scope and coverage of the statistics under Articles 9 and 10 is being extended to all enterprises and all major divisions of economic activity; the labour cost survey covers all main branches of economic activity; and concepts and definitions of earnings and hours of work comply with the ILO guidelines. It asks the Government to provide any additional information on the actual development of the enquiries mentioned under these Articles.

Article 14. The Committee notes the comprehensive reply to its previous request and further detailed information concerning the application of this Article. It asks the Government to state whether data on the numbers of work-days lost by persons injured are available or are envisaged to be collected in the near future.

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The Committee takes note of the Government's first report and its subsequent report. It asks the Government to supply information on the following points:

Article 2 of the Convention. The Government states under point IV of the report form that in connection with the compilation of statistics in Danmarks Statistik the provisions of the Convention and ILO recommendations are taken into account and given a great weight, often at the cost of national interests, and also provides detailed information on the standards and guidelines followed in connection with the statistics covered by Articles 7 and 8. The Committee notes this information and requests the Government to indicate the standards that have been followed regarding the statistics covered by Articles 9 to 15, including the reasons for any departures from them, and to specify the difficulties encountered in taking the standards into consideration.

Article 9, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that the Government refers to statistics of "wages per time unit" prepared for parts of the labour market in the form of data on "hourly pay" or "monthly pay" and asks the Government to indicate whether they refer to wage rates or earnings.

Article 10. The Committee notes that no statistics of wage structure and distribution have been compiled since 1978 and asks the Government to supply information on steps taken or proposed to compile such statistics.

Article 14. The Committee notes the statistics of compensated occupational injuries and diseases compiled by the Danish National Board of Industrial Injuries and attached to the Government's report. It requests the Government to provide more detailed information on their coverage in terms of persons and in terms of types of injuries and diseases, and on their relation with the statistics on occupational injuries collected by the National Labour Inspection and supplied to the ILO for publication in the "Yearbook of Labour Statistics". In this connection, please also indicate whether there is any consultation of employers' or workers' organisations in designing or revising the concepts, definitions or methodology in accordance with Article 3 and the title and reference information on the principal publication in which the statistics appear (Article 5), and please communicate information on the methodology used (Article 6).

Article 17. The Committee notes, as regards the statistics referred to in Article 9, the Government's statement in its first report that the coverage of the wage statistics is limited to only parts of branches of economic activity except for manufacturing and building and construction, and requests the Government to state in future reports the extent to which it is proposed to extend the coverage.