Norway
Background information on industrial relations in Norway
- 19 Oct 2010
Norway: No agreement on extending worker representationA public committee established to examine industrial democracy in Norway presented its report in March 2010. It concluded that current arrangements for codetermination in the workplace enjoy broad support in Norway. However, there is some disagreement between labour market parties about whether current provisions should be extended to include smaller companies and groups of companies, and on the rights and responsibilities of safety officers and working environment committees.
- 08 Oct 2010
Norway: Posted workersThe Norwegian government has in the last few years introduced several measures to combat social dumping. These measures are targeted on protecting foreign workers as such and have seldom only the posted worker in mind. Research indicates that there is often no strict distinction between posted workers and individual immigrants – posted workers have seldom worked for their employer in their home country.
- 24 Aug 2010
Norway: Many working days lost to labour disputes in 2010 pay bargaining roundMost Norwegian collective pay agreements were renegotiated during the spring and early summer of 2010. General pay increases were awarded in all major agreement areas, and the gender pay gap was high on the agenda in the public sector negotiations. The 2010 wage settlement did, however, result in a significant number of working days lost to industrial disputes in both the public and private sectors. The most serious of these was a major municipal strike involving 44,000 workers.
- 01 Jul 2010
Norway: New agreements concluded in key private sector accord areasIn April 2010, the social partners within the so-called trend-setting industries in Norway, which include important parts of the manufacturing sector, reached agreement on a general wage increase of NOK 1 (€0.13) an hour, as well as additional low pay increases, and an extraordinary equal pay increase to be distributed at company level. The wage settlement is expected to generate wage growth of about 3% from 2010 to 2011.
- 07 Jun 2010
Norway – Developments in social partner organisations: employer organisations’Norway has two peak employer organisations, NHO and HSH, and 39 sectoral employer organisations. Both peak organisations and sectoral employer organisations are directly involved in wage negotiations. The majority of the employer organisations are a combination of employer and business organisations. There have not been any substantial changes in the role or structure of Norwegian employer organisations since 2003.
- 01 Jun 2010
Norway: Court rules in favour of extension of shipbuilding collective agreementIn January 2010, the Oslo city court ruled that the decision to extend the collective agreement for the shipbuilding industry was lawful. The petition had been filed against the Norwegian state by nine shipbuilding yards claiming that the decision to extend the collective agreement was in conflict with the European Economic Area agreement. Employers are pursuing the matter at the Court of Appeal; they believe that no lawful grounds were given for extending the agreement.
- 17 May 2010
Trade union strategies to recruit new groups of workers – NorwayThe Norwegian trade union density rate has been relatively stable over time, varying between 52% and 57% in the last 30 years. The density rates vary greatly between sectors, and are low in parts of the private services sector and among young employees. Young employees, students and migrant workers are among the groups being targeted by the trade unions. Professional white-collar trade unions seem to have gained members at the cost of the traditional blue-collar unions.
- 27 Apr 2010
Addressing the gender pay gap: Government and social partner actions – NorwayThe most important issue regarding the gender pay gap in Norway in 2009 is how to follow up on the recommendations from the 2008 Equal Pay Commission, and especially on whether or not an equal pay pot ought to be introduced, and if so which of female-dominated groups are to be covered. Since it has been proven that the most important factors behind the gender pay gap in Norway is not direct pay discrimination, but factors that lead men and women to choose work in different sectors, occupations and working time schemes, as well as the fact that women take more responsibility at home, efforts are also directed at creating more gender equality in the labour market. The Government has promised, among other things, to increase the parental leave period reserved for the father to 14 weeks (10 weeks currently), and also to find ways to fight involuntary part-time work.
- 08 Mar 2010
Norway: Re-elected coalition government agree new political platformThe parliamentary election in the autumn of 2009 gave the centre-left coalition government a mandate to continue its work. The three parties that make up the coalition government have agreed on a political platform which encompasses continued efforts against social dumping, the continuation of the agreement for an inclusive working life, and conditional support for an equal pay package with financial support from the state.
- 19 Feb 2010
Norway: EIRO Annual Review – 2008The 2008 spring wage settlement was carried out in a situation with high labour demand, and as such generated an overall pay increase of around 6 percent, in addition to an agreement, concluded with the aid of the national authorities, on a continuation of the agreement based early retirement scheme, AFP. Issues relating to the wage- and working conditions of foreign employees has also been on the agenda, and the government has adopted several measures to help combat social dumping. Towards the end of 2008 measures against the effects of current financial crisis was placed high up on the agenda.
- 17 Feb 2010
Norway: Minimum wage introduced in green sectorIn mid November 2009, the Norwegian Tariff Board decided to make parts of the collective agreement for the green sector generally applicable. Workers affected include those in the agricultural and market gardening industry. Thus, all workers in this industry are entitled to a minimum wage. The decision by the Tariff Board was unanimous, and the new regulation came into force on 1 January 2010. The social partners were generally in favour of this decision.
- 17 Feb 2010
Norway: Government proposes unpaid leave right for care of family members over 18 yearsIn December 2009, the Norwegian government put forward a legislative proposal that would grant workers the right to unpaid leave for up to 10 days a year to take care of close family members over the age of 18 years. The proposal has been supported by both the employee and employer side, although some have expressed concerns that the measure may lead to increased gender inequality in the workplace, since women are more likely than men to take time off work to provide care.
- 10 Feb 2010
Norway: Individual disputes at the workplace – alternative disputes resolutionMediation before the court has been offered by all district and appeal courts since 2006, and seems to be successful when it comes to resolving disputes. However, there is still a potential solving disputes before this stage is reached, by using the mechanisms laid down in the Working Environment Act, e.g. when it comes to dismissals, where conciliations and negotiations are prescribed.
- 19 Jan 2010
Norway: Increased sickness absenteeism fuels debate over sick pay schemeSickness absenteeism in Norwegian working life rose by about 10% in 2009 compared to 2008; government expenditure on sickness benefits has thus increased substantially. The Norwegian Prime Minister emphasised in November 2009 the need to find measures by which to reduce sickness absence levels, but stressed that it will not involve abandoning the present scheme which provides full pay compensation during illness.
- 18 Jan 2010
Norway: Proposed equal pay fund faces rocky road aheadIn October 2009, the Norwegian government signaled its intention to contribute to an equal pay compensation fund. The issue of how to distribute such a fund has divided trade unions in Norway. It is expected that the matter may be incorporated into the upcoming bargaining round in the spring of 2010. However, due to a number of obstacles, a decision on the matter may be postponed until the 2012 wage settlement.