Pay and working conditions on the agenda in Brussels

Hanne Bjurstrøm, Minister of Labour, and László Andor, EU Commissioner.

 

The Minister of Labour Hanne Bjurstrøm discussed the labour market situation and pay and working conditions with European leaders in Brussels.

When Mrs. Bjurstrøm visited Brussels on 28 and 29 november, it was important to present the Government’s view on the Norwegian regulation on pay and working conditions in public contracts and the ILO Convention No. 94 on labour clauses in public contracts (ILO 94). The Minister had a meeting with the EFTA Surveillance Authority on this matter. She also had discussions with central EU agencies about the general labour market situation in Europe, the work against social dumping, and ILO 94.
 
– The European labour market condition, with a high degree of unemployment, is very disturbing. It has been useful to have conversations with central parties in the European Union about this issue, says Mrs. Bjurstrøm.

During her visit, she met EU Commissioner László Andor, responsible for employment, social affairs and inclusion, Pervenche Berés, Chairwoman of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament, and Alandreao Cercas og Liisa Jaakonsaari, Members of the European Parliament. In the meetings Mrs. Bjurstrøm took up the Norwegian regulation on pay and working conditions in public contracts and ILO 94.

The EFTA Surveillance Authority states that the Norwegian regulation is contrary to EEA regulations because the regulations only apply to the public sector. The Government has recently suggested some changes in the regulation to make it easier to implement. But the Government does not want to make changes that weaken workers’ rights. The Government wants to keep the regulation, because it is an important tool in the fight against social dumping.

– In the fight against social dumping, it is important that the Government leads the way in acting decent towards the workers, says the Minister.

Bjurstrøm also ha meetings with Philipe de Buck, Director General of BusinessEurope, and Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of  the European Trade Union Confederation.