The following people in vital roles for ensuring security of food and fuel supply are to be offered day care and primary schooling for their children

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has decided that certain people in key roles for ensuring supplies of food and fuel are to be offered day care and primary schooling for their children.

‘It is crucial that people in key roles are able to do their jobs in the time ahead. This includes people who ensure that shops are sufficiently stocked with food and other essential items. We must make sure that these people are able to carry out their work. This is a matter of ensuring security of supply,’ said Minister of Trade and Industry Iselin Nybø.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has carried out an assessment to determine which employees working in the areas of fuel supply and food supply are carrying out vital tasks for society. These people will be offered day care and primary schooling for their children.

The list below is not exhaustive. It is only people in vital roles that will be offered day care and schooling for their children. It is the enterprises concerned that are to decide who this applies to, and they should use their own judgement when making their assessments. If another parent is able to look after the children concerned, the children are to stay at home. People who are not the parents of the children and who are in risk groups are not to be used as child carers.

 

People in vital roles for maintaining security of food and fuel supply include the following:  

- drivers

- warehouse workers

- people working at distribution centres and warehouses

- people at fuel terminals and plants

- people in key administrative roles

- people working in the animal feed industry

- people working with livestock and in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors

- vets working with livestock and in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors

- people working in the food industry

- people working in shops and at fuel stations

In a letter of 14 March 2020, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries requested that Norway’s municipalities should be informed about this decision.

Municipalities must now consider, in cooperation with schools, how they can implement this in practice. Each enterprise must also decide which employees are to be offered day care or schooling for their children, and they should aim to keep the numbers to a minimum. If one parent is able to take care of the child or children concerned, the child or children are to stay at home. People who are not the parents of the children and who are in risk groups are not to be used as child carers.

• Read more on the website of the Norwegian Directorate of Health.

Enough food for everyone

Following the Government’s announcement on 12 March of new, far-reaching measures to combat COVID-19, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has received a number of enquiries about food supply. The Minister of Trade and Industry is responsible for food supply in Norway, and has asked members of the public to continue to shop as they normally would.

‘Despite the fact that some shelves are empty in shops now, there is enough food and other essentials for everyone. New supplies will be delivered on an ongoing basis,’ said Ms Nybø.  

Ms Nybø encouraged people in Norway to consider others and show solidarity when shopping in the days and weeks to come.

 ‘We must show solidarity towards those who are not able to go shopping in the middle of the day or to bulk buy. If people keep on hoarding food, this could make things more difficult for the weakest members of our society. If we all shop as usual, there will be enough for everyone,’ said Ms Nybø. She also reminded people of the infection risk posed by long queues in shops.