Denmark to require background checks for container port workers

Denmark will introduce mandatory background checks for some job applicants at major container ports, state broadcaster DR reports.

Justice Minister Nicolai Wammen said the measure aims to prevent criminals from being hired to handle cargo in the country’s largest harbors. Currently, no such checks are required.

Under the new rules, employers at key ports in Aarhus, Esbjerg, Kalundborg, Fredericia, Aalborg, and Copenhagen must verify IDs and review criminal records for serious offenses. The checks will target roles involving container handling.

Wammen stated the move addresses Denmark’s growing role as a transit hub for narcotics bound for other Nordic countries and Northwest Europe. Recent cases in Aarhus involved individuals linked to criminal groups working at the port.

The Danish Shipowners’ Association welcomed the proposal. Director Anne Steffensen called background checks a critical tool to stop criminal networks from exploiting shipping and endangering staff.

The regulations are expected to take effect on January 1, 2027.