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Norway

Background information on industrial relations in Norway

• 21 Dec 2006
  Norway: Committee proposes new measures to reduce sickness absenteeism

  In November 2006, the high-level committee of social partner representatives set up to discuss and recommend measures to reduce sickness absenteeism in Norwegian working life published its report. The report recommends leaving the national sick pay scheme unchanged and underlines the importance of swift action in situations where employees become sick. It also recommends that re-entry into employment is best facilitated through cooperation between the employer, the employee, the medical profession, as well as public regulatory authorities.

• 19 Dec 2006
  Norway: Merger of public services marks first stage of social welfare reform

  In November 2006, the first Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation (NAV) office was officially opened. The opening marks the start of the biggest social welfare reform ever undertaken in Norway. Employees affected by the reform, along with their trade unions, have welcomed the initiative, but insist that success can only be achieved through their participation and consultation.

• 27 Nov 2006
  Norway: Major media consortium in the making

  Several large newspapers have decided to press ahead with merger talks to create a new media consortium in Norway. The merger process has been marked by controversy, partly because of the potentially dominant role of the largest Norwegian media group, Schibsted. The employees involved also fear the consequences of a merger, in particular the possible outcome of cost saving measures.

• 09 Nov 2006
  Norway: Regulatory authorities to stamp out illegal work practices regarding migrant workers

  The number of workers from the new EU Member States entering the Norwegian labour market poses a substantial regulatory challenge for the labour market institutions and the national authorities. Increasing reports of substandard wages and working conditions suggest that the present regulatory regime is in many areas inadequate. Therefore, measures have been taken recently to strengthen the powers of the regulatory authorities.

• 09 Nov 2006
  Norway: Social partners slam proposed new sick pay scheme

  The Norwegian government has proposed to increase the financial burden on employers in relation to the costs of long-term sickness absence. However, strong criticism from the social partner organisations has forced the government to set up a committee of social partner representatives; the committee will examine alternative mechanisms by which to achieve the objectives of the government proposal.

• 30 Oct 2006
  Norway: New industry and energy union formed within LO

  In September 2006, the union for chemical industry workers and the union for oil and petrochemical industry workers merged to form a new union, Industry–Energy. The latter is now the fifth largest member union of the Norwegian confederation LO and has around 46,000 members.

• 16 Oct 2006
  Norway: National Wages Board settles industrial disputes over wages and pensions

  In August 2006, it emerged that the demands of the Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations and the Finance Sector Union would not receive the backing of the National Wages Board. These demands, which concerned wages and occupational pension schemes, had resulted in strike action during the wage negotiations in the spring of 2006. Both conflicts were halted by means of compulsory arbitration and were left to be resolved by the National Wages Board.

• 12 Oct 2006
  Norway: Figures show sizeable labour migration from new EU Member States

  New figures published in June 2006 show that migration of individual job seekers from the eight new EU Member States of central and eastern Europe into Norway has continued to increase two years after enlargement of the European Union. At the same time, the provision of services by foreign companies, or Norwegian companies employing foreign workers, is becoming the most significant form of labour mobility into the Norwegian labour market. The social partners have expressed concerns about the implications for wages, working conditions and competitiveness.

• 12 Sep 2006
  Norway: Government intervenes to end strike in finance sector

  In early June 2006, a 10-day strike among employees in the banking and insurance sector over occupational pension schemes came to an end after the government intervened and declared its intentions to halt further conflict by means of compulsory arbitration. A decision on a new agreement now remains to be settled by the National Wages Board.

• 01 Sep 2006
  Norway: Transitional arrangements for NMS workers to remain in place

  In March 2006, the Norwegian government decided to continue transitional arrangements regulating the employment of workers from new EU Member States (NMS). After reviewing these arrangements, the government considered that it would be premature to abolish the current regulations, arguing that they are partly directed at safeguarding workers from new Member States against substandard wages and working conditions.

• 28 Aug 2006
  Norway: New Commission for gender equality to tackle wage gap

  In June 2006, the Norwegian government set up a commission to investigate measures aimed at narrowing the wage gap between men and women. The Gender Equality Commission comprises experts from research institutes and universities, and will submit its recommendations to the government by 1 March 2008.

• 28 Aug 2006
  Norway: New collective agreement for temporary agency workers

  From 1 July 2006, all building and construction workers employed by the temporary work agency Adecco are covered by the collective agreement for the building industry in Norway. The agreement is the first of its kind for temporary agency workers, and it emerged as a result of increasing trade union membership among the company’s Polish workers.

• 31 Jul 2006
  Norway: New collective agreements for municipal sector

  In May 2006, consensus was reached on revised collective agreements for employees in the municipal sector. Accordingly, municipal employees will receive a general wage increase of 2.6%, while additional funds are to be set aside for company-level negotiations. In addition, the social partners have also reached consensus on a new working time agreement for teachers, despite considerable disagreement on this issue prior to the settlement.

• 31 Jul 2006
  Norway: Government intervenes to end strike among professional employees

  In early June 2006, the government intervened by means of compulsory arbitration in the bargaining dispute between Akademikerne and the state. The three other main confederations involved in state sector bargaining, YS, LO and UNIO, had accepted the proposal for a new agreement presented to them by the state mediator.

• 11 Jul 2006
  Norway: Trade union density at stable level

  More than half (53%) of Norwegian wage earners were union members in 2004, according to new figures published in May 2006. Moreover, approximately 70% of Norwegian wage earners are covered by collective agreements. Developments in union density and collective bargaining coverage have remained relatively stable over the last five to six years.

• 03 Jul 2006
  Norway: Substantial wage increase in transport sector

  In April 2006, following difficult negotiations, the social partners in the private transport sector concluded revised collective agreements for bus drivers, freight transport workers and for environmental and refuse disposal workers. The agreement provides for substantial wage increases for transport workers, in addition to a pay improvement plan for bus drivers, whose wages had fallen behind those of traditional manufacturing industries in recent years.

• 27 Jun 2006
  Norway: Wage growth lowest in 10 years

  In 2004–2005, the average annual wage growth rate in Norway was estimated at 3.25%, down from 3.75% in the previous year, according to figures issued by the Technical Calculating Committee on Wage Settlements in March 2006. Wage growth is slowly beginning to match developments among Norway’s main trading partners. Management salaries, however, continued to rise over the same period.

• 15 May 2006
  Norway: Renewal of agreements in manufacturing industry

  In April 2006, the social partners agreed on recommendations for the renewal of collective agreements in parts of the traditional manufacturing industries in Norway. The recommendations comprise provisions for a general pay increase, the strengthening of shop stewards’ powers to fight social dumping and a continuation of the early retirement scheme.

• 21 Apr 2006
  Norway: 2006 pay negotiations commence

  In spring 2006, most national collective agreements related to work in Norway are due to be renegotiated. Negotiations on pay commenced in March. Other issues on the agenda, in addition to pay, include early retirement, and the rights and powers of shop stewards in relation to the hiring of labour and outsourcing.

• 23 Feb 2006
  Norway: Rules on minimum gender representation on company boards come into force

  On 1 January 2006, rules on gender representation on company boards came into force in Norway. The new regulations state that there should be a minimum proportion of both sexes on the board, of approximately 40%. Companies have until the end of 2007 to meet the requirements set by the new legislation.

• 23 Feb 2006
  Norway: Supreme Court rules in ownership transfer case

  On 31 January 2006, the Norwegian Supreme Court ruled in favour of the employee side in a transfer of ownership case filed against the Scandinavian airline, SAS. The employees concerned will now be entitled to compensation for lost pay and working time, as well as to retain employment rights lost as a result of changed employment conditions.

• 14 Feb 2006
  Norway: Stronger protection proposed for whistle-blowers

  In December 2005, new legislation on freedom of speech at work was proposed in Norway. Among other changes, the new rules would strengthen the protection for employees who report on misconduct in the enterprise where they work - known as whistle-blowers.

• 06 Feb 2006
  Norway: Sickness absence among SAS pilots stops flights

  Plans by the Scandinavian airline group SAS to transfer bargaining responsibility for collective agreements covering pilots to its national subsidiaries were the apparent cause of five days of chaos in Norwegian aviation in January 2006. A large number of departures were cancelled when pilots reported sick.

• 11 Jan 2006
  Norway: New agreement for an inclusive working life

  In December 2005 the social partner organisations and national authorities in Norway signed a new agreement for an inclusive working life. As such the efforts to reduce sickness absence will continue. At the same time greater efforts will be made to make older people stay longer in employment, and improve the labour market situation of immigrants and other vulnerable groups.

• 10 Jan 2006
  Norway: Nordic trade unions' international activities examined

  A report published in Norway in 2005 finds significant variations in the international work carried out by Nordic trade unions. Most unions do engage in international activity - and report increased time spent on such activities - but only a minority of unions engage in large-scale efforts, measured in time dedicated or the number of issues covered. International trade union organisations at the Nordic and European levels play an important role in the international activities of Nordic trade unions.