Social Dialogue at European Level

Speaking notes – Uformelt ministerrådsmøte 11-13. juli 2002 – Kolding, Danmark

Social Dialogue at European Level

Thank you chairman,

As you all know most of the EU-directives and other initiatives are applicable to Norway through the EEA-agreement. So what you are discussing here to day, as members of the Union, will also be a part of Norwegian Policy.

In the context of this informal council we welcome and acknowledge the European Union’s initiative for an extended and closer dialogue with the Social partners.

As it is underlined in the background papers, meeting the goals set in the Lisbon strategy is depending on participation not only from governments but also from the Social partners and the whole society.

The Scandinavian countries and Norway have a good tradition for cooperation with both the Social partners and the civil society. All new initiatives in the field of employment, labour law and health and safety at work have traditionally been worked out in close cooperation with the Social partners.

In the areas of labour law and health and safety at work we are contributing to an even closer relationship with the Social partners and have set up a Norwegian social dialogue for discussion of EU-directives and other initiatives. In that way we can have a more similar process in Norway to the one you have as members of the EU.

The Norwegian government is, as you may know, in a favourite initial position:

Our employment rate is very high by international standard and our unemployment rate low.

We have of course still challenges to be met – that is similar in most of Europe.

• We should modernise and develop our policies further – aiming at a more efficient use of labour and budget resources in the public sector
• We should make the labour market more accessible for disabled
• We should mobilise immigrants earlier and to a grater degree
• We have challenges linked to social exclusion and poverty -The Minister of Social Affairs will come back to that this afternoon.

Our greatest concern though is linked to the last decade’s increased tendency of people leaving the labour market through early retirement or disability pension, and a growing number being absent from work due to sickness.

The outflow reduces the labour force and puts heavy restraints on the state budget. And it certainly gives us reasons for concern whether we have a working life that is inclusive enough.

In this area we have a recent example – and an important one – on involving the Social partners.

Last autumn the Norwegian Government and the Social partners entered an agreement on a more inclusive working life. This tripartite agreement sets three targets that should be met during the period of the agreement – which runs until the end of 2005.

The first target is to reduce absence due to sickness by at least 20 per cent over the period of the agreement.

The two other objectives are

• to promote a significant higher employment rate of persons with reduced productive capacity
• to increase the average effective retirement age.

The measures stipulated in the agreement are mainly to be applied to individual workplaces. Companies are invited to conclude a co-operation agreement with the National Insurance service and thus become so-called Inclusive workplaces. Through such cooperation agreements employers and employees are committed to work actively to attain the set goals.

Government measures have been passed to actively support and stimulate the process. Companies signing the agreement are as mentioned entitled to call themselves – Inclusive Workplaces – and by this have both some obligations and access to a wider range of government measures, which then are closed for those not signing an agreement.

The agreement was the result of negotiations between government and the Social partners. We have agreed to evaluate the results mid way, which is by 1 July 2003. If it is obvious by then that we will not attain the operative targets through the approach and measures chosen, the agreement can be set a side. Such a procedure is stipulated in the agreement.

We are eager to see how such an active involvement of the social partners may create results.

XXXXXXX