In March 2008, the committee on freedom of association of the International Labour Organization (ILO [1]) considered a complaint put forward by the Finance Sector Union of Norway (Finansforbundet [2]) against the Norwegian government. The complaint related to the government’s decision to impose
The average wage growth of Norwegian wage earners from 2006 to 2007 was 5.4%, according to new figures published in the annual report (in Norwegian, 1.05Mb PDF) [1] of the Norwegian Technical Calculation Committee for Wage Settlements (Tekniske Beregningsutvalget for Inntektsoppgjørene, TBU) on 4
At present, no generally recognised definition of telework [1] exists in the legal framework in Norway. To date, telework has not been an important topic, illustrated by the fact that the issue was hardly touched on in relation to the most recent revision of the working environment legislation in
On 3 November 2006, the labour-led coalition government presented a white paper on work, welfare and inclusion. The paper outlines the government’s strategies and measures to strengthen the inclusion of people who, for various reasons, have difficulties in gaining proper access to the labour market
In December 2006, the boards of the two largest oil companies in Norway, Statoil [1] and Norsk Hydro [2], began formal talks on a possible merger between Statoil and the energy division of Norsk Hydro (see press release [3] 18 December 2006). The proposed merger will result in what is likely to be
On 21 November 2006, the Tariff Board (Tariffnemnda), under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion (Arbeids- og Inkluderingsdepartementet [1]), took the decision to make parts of the Construction Agreement (/Fellesoverenskomsten for byggfag/) generally applicable to all
On 21 September 2006, the Norwegian Supreme Court (Norges Høyesterett) made a ruling in a case involving the use of temporary employment (in Norwegian) [1] in the form of stand-by duty employment contracts. The court ruling reinforces the principle that open-ended permanent employment contracts are
On 6 November 2006, the committee of social partner representatives published its recommendations to reduce sickness absenteeism (in Norwegian, 437Kb PDF) [1] in Norwegian working life. As a result of the committee’s work, there will be no changes to the existing national sick pay scheme. The
The first office of the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation (Arbeids- og velferdsforvaltningen, NAV [1]) was officially opened on 2 November 2006, marking the start of the largest social welfare reform ever undertaken in Norway. The so-called NAV reform entails the merger of employment