GE can breathe a sigh of relief – avoiding member flight

Naleraq believes that there is a need to separate the public companies from the private employers' organization, Greenland Business (GE), due to conflicting political interests. At the same time, public funds could be saved in the form of saved membership fees.

The draft resolution, which has been discussed in the Industry and Mineral Resources Committee, does not receive support from the parties Siumut, IA, Atassut and Demokraatit, according to a report prepared prior to the 2nd reading, which will take place at the spring session in the Inatsisartut hall.

Amendment

In an amendment from the four parties, on the other hand, it is demanded that the Industry and Mineral Resources Committee receive an information every year, which must at least "contain information on the size of membership fees, the value of the memberships and information on any conflicts of interest".

In the report, the committee refers to the responses from the public companies, where a number of them state that GE membership provides “valuable, concrete benefits, including business networks, courses and legal advice that are HR-related”.

"The committee can also ascertain that the companies do not report any conflicts of interest between GE and the self-governing companies in relation to GE's lobbying work. It is noted that the companies will generally be independent consultation parties on, for example, a bill, and that it is therefore possible to put forward a different position than that expressed by GE, and that the member companies are not otherwise bound by positions, etc. put forward by GE," it is stated.

Quotas in the millions

For the self-governing companies, the total quota payment amounts to almost 2 million kroner, while the net-managed companies pay 20,000 kroner annually.

The Business and Minerals Committee emphasizes, however, "that this is a debate of principle that is not only about individual companies' assessments of their own membership benefits."

"The case concerns the overall question of the appropriateness of a private interest organization, which must be assumed to have opposing interests in relation to the Government of Greenland, receiving support via membership fees from self-government-owned enterprises and even in certain cases net-controlled enterprises. This is a debate that needs to be had," the report states.