Labour Law — Nordic Labour Journal

The European Labour Authority ELA challenges the Norwegian model

(Nov 15, 2018) “If it turns out that Norwegian collective agreements can be overruled by the European Labour Authority, Norway might have to use its veto power in the EEA,” says Marianne Marthinsen, a member of parliament from the Norwegian Labour Party.

New conflict solving methods needed for reindeer husbandry

(Nov 14, 2018) A new mediation body is needed to deal with conflicts within reindeer herding. Existing courts and mediation bodies do not fit in with Sami culture. This proposal comes from two Norwegian researchers and a judge who have spent three years studying conflict solution within the Sami reindeer husbandry.

Theme: Focus on conflict resolution

(Nov 10, 2018) Politicians, trade union leaders and employers share one thing: Conflict solving forms a large part of their jobs. A society needs to balance work and capital, rules and freedoms, in order to achieve welfare.

Employers’ conditions in the shipping and aviation sectors provokes hot debate in the Nordic Council

(Nov 01, 2018) The Nordic Council is encouraging governments to work actively against social dumping in the shipping sector. But the Council does not want to initiate any coordination of Nordic aviation policies within the EU. These were the results after a hot debate in the labour market committee during the session in Oslo.

Cooperation brings better results

(Sep 07, 2018) Increased internationalisation demands better cooperation across national and traditional borders. New methods and ways of thinking need input from many sources. This concerns the art world as well as the fight against criminals. But how do you create good results?

A labour market with fair competition and conditions

(Sep 07, 2018) The Nordics and the Baltics have taken the fight against the shadow economy one step forward. The Nordic Undeclared Work Project has allowed control and inspection agencies the chance to get to know each other.

Work-related crime must be fought with improved cooperation

(Sep 07, 2018) When crime occurs in organised ways, inspection authorities and the social partners also need to improve their cross-border cooperation. This was one of the messages when participants from the Nordics and Baltics met at an experts’ seminar in Stockholm recently.

Finland: Unions and the construction industry join forces to fight shadow economy

(Sep 07, 2018) Trade unions and employers have entered into an unusual collaboration to fight unfair competition and the shadow economy within the Finnish construction industry. A cross-border cooperation has also been important for work environment agencies in Finland and Estonia.

Labour migration to Denmark leads to fear of increased social dumping

(Sep 07, 2018) Denmark is a popular destination for jobseekers from other EU countries. Trade unions fear this could lead to increased social dumping and want more controls. Yet most foreigners are in jobs that are covered by Danish collective agreements, says one expert.

The Oslo model brings transparency to the construction sector

(Sep 07, 2018) The view is dizzying as one of the construction workers climb the steps at the top of the new Munch Museum which is being built in Oslo. The museum will be more than a shop window for Norwegian culture; the construction project is also meant to be a showcase for fair competition and working conditions in the construction industry.

Conditions for road transport workers splits Europe into east and west

(Sep 07, 2018) Truck drivers were sacrificed in order to reach an agreement when the changes to the directive on the posting of workers were passed early this summer.

Will platform companies fit into the Nordic model?

(Jun 22, 2018) Does the Uber driver have an employer? Is the ‘self-employed’ actually an employee? And what will the zero hours worker live from if he or she does not get to work enough hours?

Swedish social partners agree to limit right to industrial action

(Jun 22, 2018) Employers who have signed a collective agreement should be able to trust that the peace obligation still stands. So argue the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and the trade union confederations LO, TCO and Saco.

Cooperating to stop a race to the bottom

(Apr 19, 2018) Not everything is perfect, but the Nordics are doing some good things, getting down to business, highlighting problems, considering the measures, wanting to learn from others without erasing political divides. This is also the case when discussing labour market inclusion, #metoo and work-related crime. Broad cooperation aims to make sure things point in the right direction.

Nordic politicians on their guard as the EU’s new labour authority takes shape

(Apr 17, 2018) The European Commission is moving at pace to make the European Pillar of Social Rights a reality. In March it presented what it called a ‘Social Fairness Package’, where it proposed that the EU should establish a European labour authority to make sure EU rules on issues including the posting of workers and the coordination of social security schemes are being followed.

Icelandic companies want to introduce equal pay standard ahead of time

(Apr 09, 2018) Icelandic companies are hard at work preparing to meet demands introduced in equal pay legislation presented at the start of the year. Several of them want to adapt the equal pay standard before the deadline. But the amount of work is greater than expected, and the first ones out must start from scratch.

Swedish social partners warn against EU directive on employment conditions

(Mar 01, 2018) Is the EU about to take over member states’ prerogative to regulate employment and working conditions? Yes, this is what may happen if the Commission’s proposal for a directive ‘for more transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union’ is passed, warn both trade unions and employers in Sweden.

Ásmundur Einar Daðason: Time to overhaul the social safety net

(Feb 08, 2018) Iceland’s Minister of Social Affairs and Equality Ásmundur Einar Daðason is also responsible for labour market issues. He met the labour market parties already the first week after becoming a government minister. Right now two issues are extremely important, he believes: To maintain the good relations with the labour market parties and strengthening the trust between the ministry, the government and the parties.

Anniken Hauglie at the Nordic council of ministers - changing focus on working environments

(Dec 11, 2017) A changing labour market means new demands and challenges for the labour market's parties, politicians and society as a whole. This formed the backdrop when Anniken Hauglie hosted a conversation during the Nordic labour ministers' meeting in Oslo recently. The opening theme was how working environments influence productivity.

Europe takes on social injustice – does the Nordic region show the way?

(Nov 23, 2017) The social pillar has been missing from Europe’s development. The Gothenburg summit presented a new future. Not everyone enjoys the result, and there are differences of opinion within the Nordic region too. When national interests are at stake, and businesses say no, you get disagreements.