Despite payments over several years, around a hundred Swedish SAS employees are now without a Danish unemployment fund. Danish authorities have decided this, reports Sydsvenskan.
In connection with the corona crisis, the airline's employees have been given the choice between either being laid off and receiving pay during the notice period – or requesting leave of absence for two years and then receiving compensation from the Danish unemployment fund FTF. However, the latter option only applies to Danes.
The CKA (Centre for Complaints about Unemployment Insurance, which is under the Danish Labour Market Authority) has decided that those who take leave of absence and live in another EU country – or are laid off by SAS +0.06% – are not entitled to any compensation in Denmark.
The decision affects around 200 Swedish SAS employees in Denmark who have chosen to be on leave while waiting for better times for the airline. But they, like their Norwegian colleagues, are now referred to their home countries' unemployment funds instead, even though according to Swedish rules, you cannot receive unemployment funds during leave.
The Danish unemployment insurance fund FTF plans to appeal the decision as it believes that Swedish members are being affected disproportionately.
