On 23 September 2004, the German-based retail multinational, Lidl, opened its first nine outlets in Norway. The entry of this forcefully expanding 'hard discount' chain into the Norwegian retail market has provoked concern among trade unions, politicians and larger Norwegian retail companies
In June 2004, a public committee published its report [1], containing recommendations on how to achieve a closer coordination of public labour market and welfare functions. It recommends placing responsibility for work- and income-related matters in one state administrative body and for pension
On 17 August 2004, the National Wage Board (Rikslønnsnemnda) ruled in favour of the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (Oljeindustriens Landsforening, OLF) in a collective bargaining dispute between OLF and the Federation of Oil Workers' Trade Unions (Oljearbeidernes Fellessammenslutning, OFS) and
In February 2004, a public committee considering the reform of working environment and employment legislation put forward its proposals for change(NO0403102F [1]). By the end of June 2004, most relevant social partner organisations and public regulatory bodies had submitted their responses to the
The phenomenon of undeclared work - defined as 'any paid activities that are lawful as regards their nature but not declared to the public authorities'- is an issue which has been preoccupying the EU institutions for a number of years. In 1998, the European Commission issued a Communication [1] on
In late June 2004, parallel meetings were held to decide on the fate of a planned merger between four member trade unions of the Confederation of Vocational Unions (Yrkesorganisasjonenes Sentralforbund, YS), initiated in August 2002 (NO0312102F [1]). Following the meetings, which involved the
On 21 June 2004, the Tariff Board (Tariffnemnda) considering a trade union demand for a partial extension of three collective agreements at seven onshore petroleum installations decided to postpone its decision. The reason for this decision was the apparent lack of documentation demonstrating the
Following the breakdown of negotiations and mediation on 18 June 2004, over 200 members of the Federation of Oil Workers' Trade Unions (Oljearbeidernes Fellessammenslutning, OFS) and the Norwegian Organisation for Managers and Supervisors (Lederne) on four offshore oil platforms went out on strike
On 1 May 2004, new rules came into force, in accordance with the European Economic Area (EEA) enlargement agreement and the EU Act of Accession, ensuring a partial continuation of national restrictions on the entry of foreign workers from the new EU Member States in central and eastern Europe. The
On 24 May 2004, a strike by transport workers in the wholesale sector ended after almost five weeks of dispute and two attempts at mediation. Also during May, strike action was taken in four other private sector bargaining areas, covering journalists, hotel and restaurant workers, graphical workers