PB

Qeqertarsuaq

Uummannaq

Upernavik

Ilulissat

QasigiannguitAasiaatKangaatsiaq

Qaanaaq

Sisimiut

Maniitsoq

Kangaamiut Tasiilaq

Nuuk

Ittoqqortoormiit

Paamiut

Narsaq NarsarsuaqAlluitsup Paa

QaqortoqNanortalik

Kangerlussuaq

Briefly aboutThe Employers’ Association of Greenland

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The Employers’ Association of Greenland – at the forefront of change The Employers’ Association of Greenland (GA) has been representing the interests of business life in Greenland since 1966, and now counts around 500 companies with approximately 6,000 employees among its members, drawn from all busi-ness sectors in the country – from small and medium-sized companies to large firms that operate on the international markets. Overall, GA is organised under nine industry committees.

We are thus Greenland’s principal trade organisation, as we represent both the vast majority of companies in the country and approximately 90% of Greenland’s overall business turnover. As a result, GA occupies a central position in the labour market, as well as in relation to the coun-try’s political leadership and public aut-horities.

GA has all of Greenland as its work-place, with the clear goal of creating the best possible framework for the business community. This means that membership of GA is the key to influencing business development, and provides direct access to a community of colleagues, which gi-ves strength.

At the same time, GA acts as a know-ledge centre with regard to the possibi-

lities and conditions applying to the busi-ness community. The secretariat of GA is at your service with advice all year round – whether your questions concern small, practical issues, or problems of a more demanding legal or financial nature.

GA is in other words a modern organi-sation with member service, lobbying and consultancy as its central activities. But business development is also very much on our agenda. Business develop-ment, seen from a social perspective. For this reason, we organise a rising number of courses, conferences, information ac-tivities, study groups and delegations abroad.

Greenland’s business life

Greenland is in the midst of a rapid pha-se of development which in the coming years will set a whole new agenda for the business community. In addition to the traditional sectors such as fishing, export industries, trade, service, IT, media, hotel and tourism, contractors, building and construction, transportation and consul-tancy, new activities in the form of mine-ral exploration, mining, etc., are also on the rise.

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GA’s four focus areas: Interest organisation

As an interest organisation, GA functions by influencing the political system to cre-ate the best environment for business li-fe. This is done on the basis of GA’s in-dustrial policy action plan, in close dia-logue with the public authorities. GA is for example currently represented on ap-proximately twenty committees and boards under the government of Green-land, and we are a consulted party in the government’s work of preparing legisla-tion.

Service organisation

As a service organisation, GA provides legal and financial advice to its member companies, and we compile sector-ori-ented statistical information and guidan-ce material for relevant legislation, as re-quired.

Employers’ organisation

As an employers’ organisation, GA works to secure orderly relations in the labour market. This is done via a collective ag-reement and four subsidiary agreements with the trade union SIK. These agree-ments cover construction craftsmen, the commercial and office sector, the manu-facturing sector, and the transport and service industries. Similarly, GA has a collective agreement with the Financial Services Union in Denmark covering the banking sector in Greenland.

Active business development in new industrial areas

GA has a duty to play an active role in relation to business development within both existing and new industries, inclu-ding the mining and oil/gas industry and the production of Greenlandic foodstuffs. GA therefore works to collect and con-solidate knowledge, and to establish net-works and international contacts with ex-perienced professionals and businesses. This is done in an effort to give Greenlan-dic companies the best possible prepa-ration to meet future requirements.

4 5

GA’s structure: Industries and local associations As a member of GA, you are associated with the organisation according to your industry:

• Construction craftsmen• Building contractors, manufactu-

ring and mineral extraction • Trade • Electricity, plumbing & heating • IT, communication and media • Service & transport • Hotels, restaurants and tourism • Fishing and export industries • Technical consultants

Local associations

Member companies are also associated with the organisation in a geographical sense, as GA has local branches in al-most every town in Greenland, represen-ting local business interests.

Industry

Each industry section is headed by an industry committee, consisting of 3-5 members elected by and from the indu-stry members. The chairman of the indu-stry committee is a member of the board of GA.

Interdisciplinary networks

GA members can enter into networks across different industries and geogra-phical locations in order to focus on spe-cific areas. They can thereby secure in-formed debate and insight into current business conditions, and work to enhan-ce these – both in relation to the public authorities and municipalities, and in the co-operation between industries.

4 5

Delegate Meeting

8 Regionalmembers

and President

Board Local BranchesLines

Manager

Chairmen

Secretariat

Nanortalik

Nuuk

Tasiilaq

QaqortoqConstructionWorkers

Electricity,Heating and Sanitary

Engineering

Contrators,Production and

Mineral Extraction

IT, communication

and Media

Commerce

Service andTransport

Hotel,Restaurantsand Tourism

Fisheries andEksports

Technical Advisors

Company

Paamiut

ManiitsoqQeqqata Kommunia

Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq

Kommune Kujalleq

Qaasuitsup Kommunia

Aasiaat

Ilulissat

Uummannaq

Narsaq

Ittoqqortoormiit

Sisimiut

Qasigiannguit

Qeqertarsuaq

Qaanaaq

Upernavik

6 7

GA’s structure Delegate meeting and board

In addition to the nine chairmen of the industry committees, the GA board con-sists of eight representatives from Green-land’s four municipalities (two from each), who are elected at the delegate meeting, by and from among the GA members in the individual municipalities.

The board chairman is directly elected by GA’s supreme assembly, the delegate meeting, which meets every two years.

The board appoints a director who, to-gether with a secretariat, handles all the above-mentioned tasks.

Membership

Ordinary membership of GA requires that the company is registered with a Green-landic GER number, and that the company’s management is physically lo-cated in Greenland. A basic membership fee is paid, plus a further payroll-depen-dent fee.

Associate membership

Organisations and international compa-nies who do not meet the requirements for ordinary membership can join GA as associate members. This membership

status was introduced in 2011 to secure the strongest possible international net-work. The membership fee is a fixed amount, as specified in the membership fee table.

Advantages of membership

All of GA’s member companies have ac-cess to relevant legislation, collective ag-reements, clear guidelines, a forms ser-vice and a number of useful links via www.ga.gl.

Membership of GA also provides a range of concrete benefits in various areas, both via GA’s member companies in Greenland, and via GA’s partners in Den-mark.

GA’s secretariat includes a number of consultants, who can offer:

• general information about business life in Greenland

• legal and financial advice• analyses and statistical studies • invitations to courses and

conferences • invitations to company visits

and participation in Greenlandic business delegations

• news via e-mail and the members’ magazine Aurora

• information about CSR Greenland

6 7

The GA network – nationally and internationally

The GA network is a nationwide organi-sation in Greenland, but also includes partners outside Greenland, via whom we secure optimal and up-to-date service and advice for our member companies.

Our partners in Denmark include the Danish Construction Association, the Da-nish Chamber of Commerce, and HORE-STA (the national trade association for the hotel, restaurant and tourism industry in Denmark).

GA is a member of the following international organisations and networks: PDAC, NOIA, Offshore Center Danmark, MSC Fisheries

CSR GreenlandGA acts as the secretariat for CSR Green-land, and provides advice to its members in relation to corporate social responsi-bility.

Branche Basic subscription (DKK)

Salary dependent subscription per year

Subscription fee 1000,- DKK

Salary per year up to 100.000

Salary per year: 100.000

to 850.000

Salary per year above 850.000

above 850.000

above 850.000

Construction craftsmen * 1.400 1.500 1.500 0 0,48%

Electricity, plumbing and heating * 1.400 1.500 1.500 0 0,48%

Building contractors, manufacturing and mineral extraction  * 1.400 1.500 1.500 0 0,48%

Technical consultants * 1.400 1.500 1.500 0 0,48%* Can get membership at “Dansk Byggeri” at a reduced price.

Salary per year up to 1.000.000

Salary per year: 1.000.000

to 1.400.000

Salary per year above 1.400.000

above 1.400.000

above 1.400.000

Hotels, restaurants and tourism ** 1.400 1.500 1.500 0 0,45%

Trade 1.400 1.500 1.500 0 0,45%

IT, communication and media 1.400 1.500 1.500 0 0,45%

Service and transport 1.400 1.500 1.500 0 0,45%

Små trawlere 2.500 0,48%

Store Trawlere 6.250 0,48%** The branch for Hotels, Restauranst and Tourism demands mandatory

membership at HORESTA at a reduced members price.

associated membership Per quater 2500,-

Subscription structure January 1st 2012

GA’s secretariat: Employers’ Association of GreenlandP.O. Box 73Jens Kreutzmanipp Aqq 3.3900 Nuuk - Grønland+299 32 15 00www.ga.gl - ga@ga.gl