The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has announced that 3F (agricultural trade union) and GLS-A (agricultural employers’ association) have entered into a new collective agreement (the Agricultural Agreement).
Under the agreement, valid from March 1, 2026, they have decided on a new indicative salary level for herdsmen and farm managers in the agricultural sector. Applications submitted to SIRI on April 23, 2026 and later will be covered by the new salary level.
When SIRI processes applications for residence and work permits for herdsmen and farm managers, it assesses, among other things, whether the salary corresponds to Danish standards. If the salary is lower than the indicative salary level, SIRI will assess that the salary does not correspond to Danish standards.
Herdsmen
The monthly salary for a herdsman will be considered to correspond to Danish standards if the total salary, including or excluding pension contributions, amounts to:
- as of March 1, 2026, at least DKK 35,352.96.
- as of June 1, 2026, at least DKK 35,705.18.
For employment that is not covered by the agricultural agreement entered into between GLS-A and 3F or the interdisciplinary agreement entered into between Arbejdsgiverforeningen KA (Christian employers’ association) and Det Faglige Hus (trade union), it also applies that overtime and supplemental rates for work during specific hours should be paid in accordance with the agricultural agreement.
Supplemental rates for working overtime:
- DKK 225.95 per hour for the first two hours after the end of normal working hours;
- DKK 312.86 per hour for the subsequent hours as well as for work carried out on Sundays and on public holidays.
Supplemental rates for work during specific hours:
- DKK 25.35 per hour when working before 5:00 a.m.
- DKK 154.74 per day for working after 12 p.m. on Saturdays.
- DKK 327.75 per day for working on Sundays and public holidays.
Farm managers
The monthly salary for a farm manager will generally be considered to correspond to Danish standards if the salary exceeds the salary of herdsmen and, at the same time, reflects the managerial content and responsibility of the position. If SIRI is in doubt as to whether the salary level corresponds to Danish standards, the matter will be sent to the Regional Labour Market Councils for consultation, which will then assess whether the salary corresponds to Danish standards.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.