Workshop 1: Working Clauses as the Foundation for Responsible Construction

This event is part of a series of workshops on socially responsible business practice in Denmark’s sustainable construction transition. All workshops will be conducted in Danish.

About this workshop

Working clauses are the essential contractual instruments that translate responsible business commitments into enforceable standards. Yet across the Danish construction sector, approaches vary widely, from comprehensive municipal frameworks with dedicated control units to new industry-led standardisation efforts.

This workshop brings together the leading practitioners to share how different types of working clauses function in practice, what makes them effective, and how the sector can align around a common standard.

With the ‘Contractor Stop’ (entreprenørstop) now in force since January 2026, the stakes have never been higher. A single subcontractor’s repeated violations can shut down an entire construction site. Working clauses are no longer just a compliance exercise; they are the first line of defence for responsible businesses and the essential mechanism for protecting workers throughout complex supply chains.

Key questions

• What makes a working clause effective in practice, not just on paper?
• How do different approaches (public procurement clauses, industry-developed standards, and new collaborative tools) compare in enforcement and outcomes?
• What constitutes the minimum social safeguards that should be non-negotiable across the sector?
• How can chain responsibility be made operational in multi-tier subcontracting?
• What lessons can private clients and developers draw from municipal experience?

Featured speakers

Byggeriets Samfundsansvar (FBSA) — Presenting the FBSA paradigm clauses (arbejdsklausul, lærlingeklausul, beskæftigelsesklausul) developed in collaboration with law firms Horten and Bech-Bruun. These clauses offer a comprehensive framework for public and private clients, with chain responsibility provisions and sanction mechanisms.

Odense Kommune — Sharing over a decade of experience with their municipal working clause and dedicated Kontrolenhed (control unit). Odense revised its clause in 2024 to address increasingly sophisticated forms of social dumping, pioneering an integrated approach combining documentation requirements, on-site inspections, direct worker interviews, and economic sanctions.

Fælles Ansvar — Introducing a new cross-sector initiative by AkademikerPension, caps lock partners, Deloitte, and MT Højgaard. Fælles Ansvar offers free, standardised working clauses for direct use in contracts between clients, contractors, and subcontractors, with built-in chain responsibility and due diligence requirements.

Agenda

09:00–09:15 : Arrival and coffee

09:15–09:30: Welcome and setting the scene

Introduction to the workshop series, the significance of working clauses in the construction sector, and why collective action is needed.

09:30–09:55: Byggeriets Samfundsansvar: Introduction to Social Minimum Standards and the Association's Clause Framework

Christina Schultz provides an introduction to social minimum standards and the working clause developed by the association in collaboration with law firms Horten and Bech-Bruun.

09:55–10:20: Fælles Ansvar: A New Industry Standard

Ann Frølund Winter, Kammeradvokaten introduces a new cross-sector initiative from AkademikerPension, caps lock partners, Deloitte, and MT Højgaard. Fælles Ansvar offers free, standardised working clauses for direct use in contracts between construction clients, contractors, and subcontractors with built-in chain responsibility and due diligence requirements.

10:20–10:45: Odense Kommune: A Decade of Enforcement Experience

Claudia Harding Cengic shares over a decade of experience with their municipal working clause and dedicated control unit. Odense Municipality revised its clause in 2024 to address social dumping and has developed an integrated approach that combines documentation requirements, on-site inspections, direct conversations with workers, and economic sanctions.

10:45–11:00: Break and refreshments

11:00–11:15: Workshop Kick-off: Cross-Sector Reflections

All three speakers in conversation about strengths and gaps in the current situation in the sector.

11:15–12:15: Breakout Workshop: How do working clauses connect to social minimum standards and how do we put them into practice?

Facilitated group work on the design and use of working clauses, clarifying responsibilities, identifying implementation barriers, and mobilising the sector.

12:15–12:40: Plenary: Summary of Key Points and Next Steps

Synthesis of workshop findings and input on priority topics for Workshop 2.

12:40–13:00: Closing and lunch