Pay and minimum rates of pay

Although there is no general minimum wage in Norway, minimum rates of pay have been introduced in certain sectors:

• Construction sites (for construction workers) 
• The maritime construction industry
• The agriculture and horticulture sectors
• Cleaning workers
• Fish processing enterprises
• Electricians
• Freight transport by road
• Passenger transport by tour bus
• Hotel, restaurant and catering

Here you find the current rates of minimum wage in the sectors above

Employees who hold a residence permit in order to work for an employer in Norway shall have pay and working conditions in accordance with the conditions of the residence permit. This applies regardless of whether you work in a sector where there is a minimum wage.

When are wages paid?

In Norway, it is usual to agree on payment of wages once a month. On payment of wages, the employer must provide you with a payslip stating the pay, tax deducted and any other deductions.

What to do if you are not paid

If the employer fails to pay wages or pays less wages than agreed, you must contact your employer to find out why you have not been paid. The reason may be that you employer refuses to pay, or that the employer is not able to pay.

What to do when your employer fails to pay

Joint and several liability

In sectors with a statutory minimum wage, the contractor at the top of the chain is liable for the obligation of contractors further down in the contractor chain to pay the minimum wage (joint and several liability). This means that you can claim payment of the minimum wage all the way up to the contractor at the top of the chain, from whom the work was ordered.