Norway
Background information on industrial relations in Norway
- 22 Dec 2005
Norway: Trade unions slow to integrate ethnic minorities<#PDF_LINK>Norwegian trade unions are not doing enough to include ethnic minorities among their ranks, according to a recent report by the FAFO Institute for Labour and Social Research in October 2005. In order to remedy the situation, trade unions must articulate clear central policies, raise competence levels among local representatives, and create the institutional capacity to monitor the needs of workers with an ethnic minority background.
- 08 Dec 2005
Norway: New employers organisation established<#PDF_LINK>The founding assembly of the Norwegian Manufacturing Industry Association was held on 28 November 2005. It is the largest national association of NHO covering approximately 110,000 employees in more than 2,000 companies.
- 08 Dec 2005
Norway: Government reverses controversial changes to work environment legislation<#PDF_LINK>In November 2005 a proposal to change work environment legislation in Norway was put forward by the new government. The original controversial changes providing for easier access to temporary employees will thus not take effect, and working time provisions will now become more restrictive.
- 31 Oct 2005
Norway: Employers may be violating privacy laws when accessing employees’ e-mail<#PDF_LINK>In October 2005, the Norwegian Data Inspectorate filed two formal complaints against companies for allegedly breaching the Act relating to the processing of personal data. In both cases, the main charges relate to management’s right to access and read e-mail correspondence to and from their own employees.
- 26 Oct 2005
Norway: New government halts deregulation of employment protection<#PDF_LINK>In October 2005, a new coalition government of the Labour Party, the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party took office in Norway. One of the aims of the new government, which has a majority in parliament, is to reverse previously approved changes to the legal framework on temporary employment and overtime. It also plans new initiatives in areas such as gender equality, working time and social dumping.
- 10 Oct 2005
Norway: Organisational changes among higher education unions continues<#PDF_LINK>In July 2005, a formal decision was made to reorganise Norway's UHO higher education trade union confederation under a new name, UNIO. The purpose of this restructuring is to accommodate two union organisations that left Akademikerne in March 2005.
- 03 Oct 2005
Norway: Collectively agreed wages extended for building workers<#PDF_LINK>From September 2005, all employers in the building sector in Norway's Oslo-fjord region are obliged to pay wages at a level at least equivalent to the minimum wage provisions in two relevant collective agreements. Foreign companies operating in Norway must thus follow Norwegian pay and conditions. Meanwhile, the legal framework regulating the extension of collective agreements has been evaluated by the government.
- 07 Sep 2005
Norway: Dispute over paper mill closure<#PDF_LINK>In August 2005 the board of Norske Skog ASA proposed to close down its paper mill Norske Skog Union in Skien Norway, the result of which will be 380 redundant employees. Strong criticism from the trade unions, as well as from local and central politicians, has not led the management of Norske Skog to reconsider its decision.
- 27 Jul 2005
Norway: Consensus reached on new pensions system<#PDF_LINK>In May 2005, a resolution setting out the main principles on which a new national pensions system is to be built was approved by the Norwegian parliament, which also agreed that all wage earners will be entitled to an occupational pension through employment. The resolution is based on a broad compromise between the centre-right coalition government and key opposition parties, and is approved in principle by the central social partner organisations.
- 14 Jul 2005
Norway: 2004 Annual Review for Norway<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews the main industrial relations developments in Norway during 2004.
- 08 Jul 2005
Norway: New wage figures published<#PDF_LINK>The Technical Calculating Committee on Wage Settlements published its second annual report on wage developments in Norwegian working life on 27 June 2005. Wage growth in the manufacturing industry is lower than earlier anticipated.
- 29 Jun 2005
Norway: Parliament passes new working environment legislation<#PDF_LINK>In June 2005, the Norwegian parliament passed a number of changes to current working environment legislation. The changes include provisions to make it easier to use temporary employees, and to improve the prospects of part-time employees to obtain extended working hours. Furthermore, the amendments seek to implement the 2002 EU information and consultation Directive. The new provisions will come into force in January 2006.
- 08 Jun 2005
Norway: Industrial action during 2004 bargaining round examined<#PDF_LINK>According to figures published in May 2005 by Statistics Norway, industrial action was at a relatively moderate level during the 2004 collective bargaining round, with fewer working days lost than in any other main settlementsince 1994. The disputes were on the whole concerned with issues other than pay, and many of them remain unresolved.
- 07 Jun 2005
Norway: Norway trying to cope with the free movement of workers from the new member states<#PDF_LINK>In May 2005 social dumping and the regulation of labour migration was on the agenda of the social partners and policy-makers in Norway. The government and the social partners intend to intensify efforts and strengthen measures to combat social dumping.
- 31 May 2005
Norway: LO holds national congress<#PDF_LINK>The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) held its four-yearly national congress in May 2005. Among other matters, LO’s position on the issue of a proposed new pensions system was approved at the congress.
- 11 May 2005
Norway: Thematic feature - unskilled workers<#PDF_LINK>This article gives a brief overview of the industrial relations aspects of the topic of unskilled workers and unskilled work in Norway, as of February 2005. It looks at: national definitions of unskilled workers or work; the number of unskilled workers and workers in unskilled jobs, and the extent of unskilled work; employment and unemployment among unskilled workers; the regulatory framework; trade union organisation among unskilled workers; pay and conditions; recent initiatives to improve the situation of unskilled workers; and the views of trade unions and employers' organisations on the issue and its implications for collective bargaining.
- 09 May 2005
Norway: Plans for a new service sector union put on ice<#PDF_LINK>On 3 May 2005 the planned merger of several transport- and service sectors unions came was stopped. Despite a general consensus about the need to join forces to confront the challenges faced by these unions, the organisational and cultural barriers between the unions were seen be too great to foster agreement on the organisational structure of the new union.
- 25 Apr 2005
Norway: Pay agreements concluded in private sector<#PDF_LINK>In March 2005, the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) reached collective agreements on pay with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS), covering large parts of the private sector. The settlements provide for small central pay increases, with additional rises for workers not subject to subsequent company-level bargaining and those on low pay.
- 25 Apr 2005
Norway: Wage growth slowed in 2004<#PDF_LINK>The annual average wage growth rate in Norway was 3¾% from 2003 to 2004, down from 4.5% in the previous year, according to figures issued by the Technical Calculating Committee on Wage Settlements in February 2005. Management salaries rose over the same period by 12% in companies with more than 250 employees.
- 19 Apr 2005
Norway: Thematic feature - collective agreements on changes in work organisation<#PDF_LINK>This article gives a brief overview of collective bargaining on changes in work organisation in Norway, as of September 2004. It looks at: the extent to which collective agreements introduce changes in work organisation that take into account productivity demands, flexibility and security in an integrated way; the main areas in which changes are being introduced; the overall success or otherwise of bargaining on the topic; and the prospects for the future.
- 11 Apr 2005
Norway: Report on work environment situation of non-western workers<#PDF_LINK>On 7 March 2005 the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority published a report on the working environment situation of non-western immigrant workers in Norway. It argues that lack of training and information is an important obstacle to a healthy work environment among this group of workers.
- 01 Apr 2005
Norway: LO to direct efforts at improving gender equality<#PDF_LINK>On 23 February 2005 the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions presented its proposal for a revised Programme of Action for the next congressional period. In its proposal LO commits itself to intensify work to promote gender equality in working life as well as in society in general.
- 15 Feb 2005
Norway: Five-month dispute ended by compulsory arbitration<#PDF_LINK>A five-month industrial conflict involving Norwegian elevator constructors was halted in late January 2005, following a government decision to recommend the use of compulsory arbitration. The conflict arose out of a trade union demand aimed at guaranteeing foreign workers the same pay and employment conditions as Norwegian workers.
- 09 Feb 2005
Norway: White Paper on pension reform presented<#PDF_LINK>In December 2004, the Norwegian government issued a White Paper setting out a strategy for a new pension system. It involves a public basic pension for all, as well as a public supplementary pension, with pensions to a greater degree than today depending on individuals’ life-time income and labour market participation. The government also proposes the introduction of a compulsory occupational pension. Trade unions have already expressed opposition to some of the proposals.
- 02 Feb 2005
Norway: Significant drop in sickness absence<#PDF_LINK>Figures issued in December 2004 revealed a significant drop in the sickness absence rate in Norway in the course of the year. The social partners have responded by stressing the positive effects of a 2001 tripartite agreement on an inclusive working life, which aimed to cut sickness absence, and asked the authorities not to put into effect proposed changes to employers’ contributions to financing sickness absence, due to take effect in July 2005.
- 17 Jan 2005
Norway: Action plan seeks to combat bullying at work<#PDF_LINK>In December 2004, the Norwegian government and social partners presented an action plan to combat bullying at work. The initiative has been taken in line with a 2001 tripartite agreement on an inclusive working lifeand will run for a period of three years.
- 06 Jan 2005
Norway: Committee rejects right to increased hours for part-timers<#PDF_LINK>A committee appointed by the Norwegian government to examine ways of reducing underemployment- ie the number of part-time workers who want longer hours - presented its report in December 2004. It does not recommend a statutory right to increased working hours for part-time workers, but wants to see a strengthening of the labour market administration's role in helping underemployed people increase their working time. Trade unions are disappointed with the committee's recommendations.
- 06 Jan 2005
Norway: Developments in women's representation on company boards<#PDF_LINK>Since January 2004, publicly-owned companies in Norway must ensure that 40% of the members of their boards are women, while public limited companies must achieve this 40% quota voluntarily by the end of 2005 if they are to avoid having a legal obligation imposed on them. A study published in December 2004 found that female board representation in Norway is higher than in the other Nordic countries, but that there is still a long way to go before the target of 40% is reached.