Equality Pays

Thank you for this opportunity to talk about an important issue.  
The Norwegian welfare system is aimed at promoting the greatest possible workforce participation, by women – and men.

Women are participating almost on an equal footing as men in the labour market, and at the same time establishing families. This did not merely happen. It happened because Norwegian women and men wanted it to happen and politicians took decisions to enable it to happen.

All Norwegian parents now have a statutory right to kindergarten for their children.
In addition they are entitled to one year’s paid parental leave.

Today we have full coverage for children aged 1-5 in kindergartens of high quality and at a fixed low price.

The paid parental leave can be used by both parents. Today 12 weeks are reserved for the father. Thanks to this quota, men are increasingly “coming home”. This combination of a generous parental leave, day care coverage and the possibility to take care of sick children by paid leave of absence; ten days pr. parent pr. year , makes it possible for both parents to hold jobs.

We have managed to reach a high level of workforce participation through decades of strong emphasis on our welfare society - one of Norway’s most important political outputs. This is not only a question of having sufficient financial resources available. We became prosperous because we developed the welfare society.
The ideal of the housewife with a husband working in well-paid industrial jobs, took foothold in the fifties and the early sixties. But less than two decades later, women began flooding into paid work and gradually started having their own economic power.
In Norway a new “partnership” was formed - between the authorities, the labour movement, trade unions, the NGOs and research institutions. Society needed heads and hands, and a question high on the agenda became if gender equality should be mandated. In Norway, the answer was yes and through political initiatives women were encouraged to enter the labour market and enabling structures were designed. 

Through this tradition of dialogue and cooperation, Norway has developed flexible and comprehensive social welfare systems.
However, cultural traditions continued to promote care for children and homes as a female domain – while decision-making, money-making and public power remained male domains.

Now, tripartite cooperation plays an important role in promoting universal and comprehensive social security systems. In this way, representatives of employers, employees and the Government can work in collaboration and through consultation and discussion. This process can results in universal regulations and legislation, covering all.

Social policy, labour market policy and economic policy are interrelated.
Public services over time has made it possible for most women to combine labour market participation with family responsibilities.

So, ladies and gentlemen,
Gender equality is about both women and men. Norway is a rich country with, among others, heavy investments in the oil and gas industry. This has helped to maintain and develop our welfare system. At the same time, we have also invested in gender equality.

We have strong indications showing that gender equality gives economic growth and prosperity. Women’s employment boosts the GDP. Norwegian gross domestic product per capita is even 20 per cent higher than that of the United States.

Our experience is that equality pays!

Thank you for the attention!