Scrutiny Turns to Nuuk Airport’s Security Employees
Sermitsiaq previously reported on the Danish Transport Agency’s request to the Norwegian Working Environment Authority to investigate the security staff at Nuuk Airport. To date, there has been no indication of any correspondence or oversight activities between the Norwegian authorities and either Nuuk Airport or Greenland Airports.
In a recent communication, the Norwegian Working Environment Authority provided insight into the developments. The head of inspection confirmed their awareness of potential challenges related to working conditions and announced plans for an inspection visit at the earliest opportunity. While this indicates that an investigation is indeed in progress, the timeline for the inspection remains uncertain, as does the scope—whether it will extend beyond just the security personnel.
GAIR: Adhering to the Law
Our inquiry into the matter began when a reader brought to light reports of excessively long working hours. This concern was echoed by the Swedish Transport Agency, which had also noted similar issues.
On June 26, 2025, the Norwegian Working Environment Authority received a formal request from the Danish agency. The email highlighted concerns regarding the lengthy shifts endured by security staff at Nuuk Airport, often encompassing multiple consecutive long days. It expressed uncertainty about whether these conditions align with current labor laws.
In response, Greenland Airports confirmed the validity of these claims, acknowledging that many employees were indeed working extended hours across multiple shifts. However, according to the managing director, Jens R. Lauridsen, this was all within legal parameters. “We comply with the legislation governing the working environment and the collective agreement established by the self-government at the time,” he stated in August.
As the investigation unfolds, both the current practices and the future of security operations at Nuuk Airport remain in the spotlight.