There is no general minimum wage for all sectors and workers in Norway. Nevertheless, minimum wages has been introduced in certain sectors in general application of collective agreements.
General application of collective agreements is one of a number of instruments to prevent foreign workers from being given poorer pay and working conditions than are usual in Norway.
Generally applicable collective agreements are agreements concerning pay and working conditions that apply to everyone who works in the specific sector, regardless of whether they are party to the agreement.
Other sectors
There is no general minimum wage in Norway in other sectors than the ones listed above.
Wages have to be negotiated between employer and employee.
Working hours
In the maritime construction industry, working hours have general application. In other sectors, working hours do not have general application. The provisions of the Working Environment Act therefore apply to these.
Travel and board and lodging expenses
The different sectors have different rules for reimbursement of expenses for travel, board and lodging, see further description in the regulations (in Norwegian).
Working clothes
The employer shall provide the necessary working clothes and protective footwear suitable for the time of year and the workplace.
The obligation to provide information, to ensure compliance and right of inspection
It is the employer who has the main responsibility for ensuring compliance with generally applicable conditions. However, several other parties have rights and obligations in this connection:
- A person who engages workers or purchases a service from a supplier/contractor or subcontractor is obliged to provide information concerning these provisions.
- The main contractor must ensure that generally applicable conditions are complied with by subcontractors.
- Employees’ representatives in the main contractor’s undertaking may request the right of inspection of the pay and working conditions of workers in sectors with generally applicable collective agreements.
Exceptions
The rules do not apply if the employee is, as a whole, entitled to more favourable pay and working conditions according to agreement, or pursuant to the legislation that applies in his or her country of origin.
Right of residence for workers who are EU/EEA/EFTA citizens
Workers who are nationals of an EU/EEA/EFTA country need no longer apply for a residence permit in Norway, but can register electronically on the website of the Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
Those who register must then report to the police or to a Service Centre for Foreign Workers. Nationals of EU/EEA/EFTA countries with valid ID cards or passports have a right of residence for three months in Norway.
The role of the Labour Inspection Authority
The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority supervises compliance with these rules. If the rules are violated, the Labour Inspection Authority may impose injunctions and or coercive fines, stop the work or report the matter to the police.
