The Government’s action plan against social dumping

On 1 May 2006, the Stoltenberg II Government presented an action plan against social dumping. The action plan was presented to the Storting in the Revised National Budget on 12 may. The plan is regularly followed up in relation to the Storting and it will be adjusted and supplemented.

The action plan is part of and is described in more detail in chapter 3.6 of the Revised National Budget for 2006.

Strengthening the sanctions at the disposal of the Labour Inspection Authority: The Labour Inspection Authority and the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway have powers to issue orders and impose overrun penalties when conducting supervision pursuant to the Act relating to the general application of collective agreements and the Immigration Act. The necessary legislative amendments will be adopted in autumn 2006 and will enter into force on 1 December.

Increased resources for supervision: In the Revised National Budget for 2006 and the national Budget for 2007, more resources were allocated to the Labour Inspection Authority and the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway for use in their efforts to combat social dumping.

Ensuring more orderly conditions in connection with the hiring and hiring out of employees and improving the system for the general application of collective agreements: The Government will ensure more orderly conditions for employees in the labour hire market. The Government will also continue its work on the system for the general application of collective agreements, including the question of employee representatives’ right of access to information. A proposal was sent for consultation before Christmas 2006 with 22 March 2007 as the deadline for submissions.
Combat unscrupulous contractors and in the establishment of sole proprietorships: In their supervisory activities, the Labour Inspection Authority and the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway will have greater focus on the problem of employees being defined as self-employed contractors in order to avoid Norwegian wages and working conditions.

Include requirements for Norwegian pay and working conditions in municipal tender procedures: The ILO Convention no. 94 with requirements for Norwegian pay and working conditions will be implemented in 2007 for municipalities and county authorities.

Introduce extended responsibility for clients and ID cards in the building industry: A system will be introduced whereby clients are made responsible for including clauses in contracts with subcontractors to ensure that employees have wages and working conditions in line with the provisions of regulations for the general application of collective agreements. Rules for ID cards that can make such cards an effective instrument against social dumping will be issued in autumn 2006 and the cards will be introduced in 2007.

Implement measures in coastal shipping and agriculture: There are plans to re-introduce the requirement for work and residence permits for seafarers in Norwegian coastal shipping. Systematic efforts will be made to prevent social dumping in agriculture through targeted supervisory activities and information campaigns.

Improve statistics and the basis for analysis: Statistics and analyses relating to labour immigration and social dumping will be improved in cooperation with the social partners under the auspices of the Employment Policy Council.

Improve coordination of the efforts of government agencies throughout the country: The current cooperation and joint projects between the Labour Inspection Authority, the Petroleum Safety Authority, the tax authorities and other involved agencies will be continued and strengthened. There will be increased focus on ensuring that such cooperation also works well at the local level.

Strengthen cooperation between the authorities and the social partners: The Government will continue and further develop cooperation with the social partners at all levels, from cooperation between the supervisory authorities and employee representatives in various industries and in workplaces to the dialogue in the Employment Policy Council.