A bill intended to ensure that those who have been convicted of serious crimes are denied their disability pension or early retirement has continued to progress through the Danish parliament.  

Parliament previously reached an agreement on plans for those who have been convicted of serious crime denied their disability pension, senior pension or early retirement for five years.

In addition to this, the current quarantine scheme would be tightened so that gang members and others who commit serious crime will be excluded from receiving a number of other public benefits for five years, extending the quarantine period from three to five years.

After the five years is over, individuals would be able to apply again to receive the benefit if they meet the conditions.

The agreement received backing from across the Danish government (Social Democrats, the Liberals, and the Moderates), as well as from the Danish Democrats, the Liberal Alliance, the Conservative People's Party and the Danish People's Party.

The bill supporting this has continued to progress through parliament since and was sent for hearing yesterday (9 September), with backing from the Minister of Employment, Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, who said: "Early retirement is intended for our most vulnerable citizens – not organized criminals. 

"It should not be the case that you receive a benefit paid by taxpayers because you cannot work, if you then spend your time undermining society by committing serious crime.

"That is why I am pleased that with the bill we can deny early retirement to serious criminals."

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