EU rules block Danish sixth graders from helping clean up local market

Parents were left to handle the cleanup alone at Hjallerup Market in northern Denmark Friday morning after EU labor regulations forced organizers to exclude sixth-grade students from the annual tradition, state broadcaster DR reports.

For years, pupils from Hjallerup School’s sixth grade had assisted with post-event cleanup—collecting deposits and light refuse—to earn funds for their school trips. But following an intervention by the Danish Working Environment Authority, the practice was halted because several students had not yet turned 13, the minimum age for light part-time work under EU child labor directives.

Michael Ottesen, chair of Hjallerup Market, called the change regrettable, noting the students’ eagerness to contribute. “We have a lot of children at home who actually want to be part of the community effort,” he said. “The money goes toward their Bornholm trip, and they get to see the direct result of their work. It’s healthy to learn that from the start.”

Parents like Gitte Von Arenstorff, whose child is in the affected class, dismissed comparisons to exploitative child labor. “They’re not moving tables or handling food waste,” she said. “They’re here to collect deposits—maybe to buy an ice cream for their trip. It’s not the same thing.”

Ottesen confirmed he has approached the Working Environment Authority to explore alternatives, such as securing collective approval for entire classes rather than individual permits. Current EU rules permit exceptions only for cultural activities like theater or film, not general event cleanup.