Hospitals ordered to reduce part-time work

In spring 2011 Norway’s Health Minister Grete Strøm-Eriksen ordered all state hospitals to reduce their use of part-time positions by 20%. The government wants more full-time jobs and has also allocated funds to help to reduce the number of people in involuntary part time work. One in three employed women aged 25–54 years in Norway works part time. Many would like their working hours extended, and unions want to see the introduction of a statutory right to full-time work.

Background

The issue of involuntary part-time work has been on the agenda of Norway’s social partners for some time. The country has many part-time employees, particularly in female-dominated occupations such as nursing. One in three employed women aged 25–54 works part time. Furthermore, a document (in Norwegian, 404Kb PDF) published by trade unions and employers shows that about 40% of all employees – and 47% of all female employees – in the hospital sector are working part time. Although many of these are satisfied with their working hours, there is also a substantial number of them who want their working hours extended. During spring 2011, the issue of involuntary part-time work, and an increase in full-time positions, has been discussed in various contexts.

Government demand

In February 2011, Health Minister Grete Strøm-Eriksen told hospitals to reduce their use of part-time employment by at least 20% in 2011. The hospitals are also obliged to report, every month, on their progress. The health enterprises are working with the unions to achieve this goal.

Agreement between employers and union

In March 2011, employer organisation Spekter, whose members mainly comprise deregulated public enterprises, and the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees (Fagforbundet) agreed to ask every hospital to identify the extent of its involuntary part-time work. Their agreement (in Norwegian, 66Kb PDF) also states that they will conduct a survey of all part-time employees to find out who wants longer hours or full-time employment. It was also agreed that the social partners at enterprise level shall discuss and develop measures that may help to reduce involuntary part-time work. The deadline set for implementation of the measures is 15 May 2011.

The joint document (in Norwegian, 404Kb PDF) issued by unions and employers also shows that different types of measures, such as the opportunity to work across departments or sections, have already been discussed by joint committees in the hospital sector. The agreement between Spekter and Fagforbundet builds upon on this work.

Financing pilot projects

On 8 March 2011, it was announced that the government will allocate a total of NOK 75 million (€9.5 million as at 25 May 2011) over three years to fund initiatives aimed at reducing the number of involuntary part-time workers. The authorities and social partners have agreed that the funds will be used for trial projects addressing changes to work organisation within each enterprise, as well as initiatives involving further and continuing education that may help to strengthen the individual employee's opportunity to acquire full-time employment.

Commentary

The trade unions welcome the implementation of measures to reduce involuntary part-time work, as well as initiatives to facilitate the creation of more full-time positions. However, many major unions want to see a right to full-time positions established by law. Employers oppose this idea, arguing that the challenges connected with involuntary part-time must be resolved by other means, such as working time schemes.

Kristine Nergaard, Fafo