The centre-right minority coalition government which took office in October 2001, comprising the Conservative Party (Høyre), the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti, KRF), and the Liberal Party (Venstre), remained in power during 2003 under Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. The 2004
Bargaining in the parts of the private sector most exposed to international competition - between the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions (Fellesforbundet) on one side, and the Federation of Norwegian Manufacturing Industries (Teknologibedriftenes landsforening, TBL) and the Federation of
The average wage growth among Norwegian wage earners in 2003 was 4½%, according to preliminary figures from the Technical Calculating Committee on Wage Settlements (Det tekniske beregningsutvalget for inntektsoppgjørene, TBU). This was significantly lower than in 2002. Real wage growth was around 2%
In November 2003, a working group set up on the initiative of the Federation of Norwegian Construction Industries (Byggenæringens Landsforening, BNL) in cooperation with, among others, the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions (Fellesforbundet), published its first report. The working group
A historic state budget agreement was signed on 15 November 2003 by the centre-right minority coalition government - made up of t he Conservative Party (Høyre), the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti, KRF) and the Liberal Party (Venstre) - and by the opposition Norwegian Labour Party
In October 2001, the Norwegian government and social partners entered into an agreement to create 'a more inclusive working life' (NO0110107F [1]). The main objectives of the 'inclusive working life' (inkluderende arbeidsliv, IA) agreement are to reduce sickness absence by 20% over the period 2001-5
On 15 October 2003, a district court issued a controversial ruling in an ownership transfer case brought by 368 employees of Scandinavian Ground Handling Service (SGS). The case concerned the maintenance of employment rights and prerogatives as a result of the takeover of the Norwegian airline
On 20 October 2003, all four trade union confederations - the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisasjonen i Norge, LO), the Confederation of Vocational Unions (Yrkesorganisasjonenes Sentralforbund, YS), the Confederation of Higher Education Unions (Utdanningsgruppenes
The issue of works councils and similar workplace employee representation and participation structures is topical at present, with the EU Member States required to implement the recent Directive (2002/14/EC) [1] establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European
On 24 September 2003, six trade unions issued a joint statement outlining their intention to consider formally a possible merger to create a new union organisation for employees in the transport and service sectors. There is still a long way to go before such a merger is agreed, and there are likely