Danish companies whether public and private, small, medium sized or large all compete for the honour of winning the MIA Award each year. In order to win they have to actively promote diversity and secure equal opportunities for all - regardless of the gender, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation of their employees. They are also required to motivate and inspire others to promote diversity.
This year’s winners were: ISS Facility Services A/S, the National Board of Industrial Injuries (Arbejdsskadestyrelsen), and a branch of the supermarket chain, Føtex, (Storcenter Nord) in Aarhus.
Danish Employment Minister, Inger Støjberg, handed over statuettes to representatives from the winning companies at a ceremony in the Experimentarium in Copenhagen. The Minister said she hoped that other companies would take note of who had won.
“Each human being is necessary to create a functioning society. That is our starting point, whether the economy is booming, or crisis looms. I am therefore pleased to see that so many companies have understood the benefits of working with diversity, and have chosen to devote time and resources to apply for this award. Each and every one has shown the way ahead. They are a great inspiration for other businesses and I really hope that others take note and rally to the cause, “said Inger Støjberg immediately before the awards were announced.
DIHR Director, Jonas Christoffersen, backed up the Minister’s sentiments and stressed that the MIA Award was not only about praising the best employers.
“The Award is one of the ways we can draw attention to the fact that many companies do a lot of good work to promote diversity and equal treatment in Denmark. But we are also aware that much has to be done. Gender equality in Denmark has not been making any progress recently, so it is gratifying to see that this year’s winners and nominees are showing the way forward,” he said.
Among the runners-up for the Award were Statens Serum Institute, Microsoft Denmark and Ethnic Jobteam in Odense. Previous winners have included such well known companies as McDonald's Denmark, Novo Nordisk, Emergency Management Agency, Nykredit and Experimentarium who hosted this year’s ceremony.
For further information, please contact Brendan Sweeney at
