The Norwegian Collaboration Model Svein Oppegaard, NHO. Global Industrial Relations Network. Telenor, 25. October 2012

This is NHO

Norway’s largest stakeholder organization for businesses

21,400 members and 525,000 employees of member companies

photo: O lav Heggø

The Norwegian Model

Population: 5 017 500

Population between 15-74 years: 3 763 000

Total Labour force: 2 693 000Persons outside labour force: 1 042 000

Employed: 2 604 000

Private sector: 1 800 000Public sector: 800 000

Unemployed: 89 000

Source: Statistics Norway, Labour force survey Q2 2012

Our Labour market:

4

Unemployment rate: 3,3 % (unemployed/labour force)

Employment rate: 69,7 % (employed/population)

Labour force participation ratio: 72,1 % (labour force/Population)

Source: Statistics Norway, Labour force survey Q2 2012

NHO believes in:

A strong and influential private sector

A state which limits its industrial policies and legislation to what is needed to stimulate business

Bipartite cooperation: Trade unions and employers organizations being able to cooperate on a broad basis

Tripartite cooperation: State and social partners

photo: O lav Heggø

Good labour relations:

Competetive companies must be efficient and productive

Constructive labour relations may contribute

Cooperation must be based on trust and mutual respect

photo: Scanpix

How to achieve it?

Constructive dialogue between management and workers representatives

Workers involvement at all levels

Areas of formal cooperation – within the agreement framework

photo: Scanpix

Law and collective agreements

Law: Workers protection Holidays Sick leave and payments Paid parental leave Board representation of

workers in companies Conflict solving mechanismsCollective agreements: The Basic Agreement Collective wage agreements

photo: Scanpix

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The Basic Agreement

The most important tool for dialogue:

The right to unionise The right for workers to be

informed, involved and consulted

The right to form a liaison committee at the enterprise level

The provisions are binding for all parties

Alleged violations may be brought before the Labour Court

Areas of tripartite cooperation:

Guidelines for wage determination (from the technical calculation commitee to high level meetings)

Vocational education and training, apprenticeship in companies

The Inclusive Working life Agreement – to reduce absenteeism

Programs to promote accountability in vulnerable industries

Photo: O lav Heggø

Stable union density

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 201010

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Share of workers organised in a trade union

Source: Kristine Nergaard, FAFO-notat 2010:25

Trade union density in different countries

Source: OECD 2009-2010, FAFO-report 2012.16 Eldring & Alsos

Iceland Finland Sweden Denmark Norway France UK Germany0102030405060708090

Detailed regulation:

Working environment act with detailed regulation

NHO: 240 collective agreements

New regulation: Employment services