What we can help you with
We can give you general guidance in our regulations. We do not have the authority to make decisions in individual cases, but we will help you to use relevant laws and regulations so you can solve your own case. We can also tell you where to apply for help.
The Labour Inspection Authority receives many questions and tips that concern matters of private law. When something is a matter of private law ("privatrettslig"), it means it is a matter between the employer and the employee. The Labour Inspection Authority does not have jurisdiction in such matters, but we can give both you and your employer general information and advice about working environment rules and regulations.
Examples of concerns that are a matter of private law:
- failure to pay a wage in sectors that do not have a statutory minimum wage
- failure to pay holiday pay
- pay rates when no statutory minimum wage applies
- employment contracts
- termination of employment
- lay-offs
- taking holiday leave and right to holiday leave
- right to leave of absence
If you and your employer cannot agree on an issue that is a matter of private law, you can seek legal advice, e.g. through your trade union, by contacting a lawyer or by seeking free legal aid.
Often, you need to contact another public authority instead
The Labour Inspection Authority receives many tips and reports of concern about things that fall under the jurisdiction of another authority. Examples of such concerns and the appropriate authority to contact:
- Tips about undeclared work ("svart arbeid") should be reported to the Tax Administration (skatteetaten.no, in English).
- Suspicions of human trafficking or violent crimes should be reported to the police (politiet.no, in English).
- Failure to pay sick pay, or conflicts with the employer about whether the conditions for receiving sick pay have been met, should be reported to NAV (nav.no, in English).
- Tips about food quality or animal welfare should be reported to the Food Safety Authority (mattilsynet.no, in English).
- Disputes concerning leave can be settled by Dispute Resolution Board (tvistelosningsnemnda.no, in Norwegian).
- Tips concerning poor service quality, e.g. in education or health services, must be reported to the appropriate supervisory authority, e.g. the County Governor ("Statsforvalteren").
- If you live next door to a construction site and you have noise or dust concerns, you must contact the municipality.