Tormod Ytrehus

foreignworkers@lomedia.no

The statutory minimum wage rate has been raised in nine industries. See our overview of the new rates and the industries affected.

The minimum wage and other parts of collective agreements have been made universal in certain industries.

This implies that it is illegal for employers to pay lower wages or provide less beneficial working conditions, even if the company is not a member of a union.

The aim is to ensure that foreign employees have equal pay and employment circumstances as Norwegian workers, and to prevent wage levels in certain areas from being pushed lower: in other words, to combat social dumping.

New wage rates apply in the following industries:

• Freight shipment by road

• The maritime construction industry

• Passenger transport by tour bus

• Fisheries

• Hotels, restaurants, catering

• Agriculture and horticulture

• Construction

• Cleaning

• Electrical trades

The changes will take effect on July 15, and employees will see an increase in their first pay check following that date. This will apply to workers who are paid the minimum wage and are not protected by a collective agreement.

Several aspects of the collective agreements have wide applicability but have not yet been adjusted.

Freight shipment by road

Employees performing road haulage work driving vehicles with an overall weight of over 3.5 tonnes (with the exception of shipment of the business’s own goods) must receive a minimum hourly wage of:

• 207 kroner (previous rate 196.50 kroner)

The maritime construction industry

Employees performing production, assembly and installation work in the shipyard and shipbuilding industry must receive a minimum hourly wage of:

• 204.51 kroner for skilled workers (previous rate 197.01 kroner)

A skilled employee holds a trade or craft qualification or expertise that is formally recognised in the trade in which the employee is working.

• 195.54 kroner for semi-skilled workers (previous rate 188.04 kroner)

A semi-skilled worker is someone who has had enough practise to be able to operate machinery and equipment without supervision, as well as execute other semi-skilled work necessary in the manufacturing process. (Must be at least 18 years of age.)

• 186.67 kroner for unskilled labourers (previous rate 179.17 kroner)

An unskilled labourer performs work of a simpler nature in the production process.

Employees who must spend the night away from home due to work assignments away from their regular place of employment must be paid an hourly rate of:

• 40.90 kroner for skilled workers (previous rate 39.40 kroner)

• 39.11 kroner for semi-skilled workers (previous rate 37.61 kroner)

• 37.33 for unskilled labourers (previous rate 35.83 kroner)

Passenger transport by tour bus

Employees providing passenger transport through coaches or buses must be paid a minimum hourly wage of:

• 202.62 kroner (previous rate 194.12 kroner)

Fisheries

Employees of fish processing companies must receive a minimum hourly wage of:

• Skilled workers: 220.03 kroner (previous rate 217.78 kroner)

A skilled employee holds a trade or craft qualification or expertise formally equivalent to the trade in which they operate.

• Production workers: 206.03 kroner (previous rate 199.78 kroner)

Hotels, restaurants, catering

Employees working for hotel, restaurant and catering companies and similar operations on land must receive a minimum hourly wage of:

Young employees:

• 16 years of age: 128.58 kroner (previous rate 118.08 kroner)

• 17 years of age: 138.08 kroner (previous rate 127.58 kroner)

• 18 years of age: 152.34 kroner (previous rate 141.84 kroner)

Starting wage for employees over the age of 20 / after four months of practice for employees aged over 18:

• 190.79 kroner (previous rate 179.94 kroner)

Agriculture and horticulture

Temporary and harvest workers:

• Under 18 years of age: 124.90 kroner (previous rate 114.40 kroner)

• Over 18 years of age with up to 12 weeks’ seniority: 144.90 kroner (previous rate 134.40 kroner)

• Over 18 years of age with between 12 weeks’ and six months’ seniority: 150.40 kroner (previous rate 139.90 kroner)

Permanent employees:

• Unskilled: 164.80 kroner (previous rate 154.30 kroner)

• Under 18 years of age: 134.30 kroner (previous rate 123.90 kroner)

Construction

Employees performing construction work must be paid a minimum hourly wage of:

• Skilled workers: 238.30 kroner (previous rate 230 kroner)

A skilled worker holds a trade or craft certificate in a particular trade. Foreign trade certifications recognised by NOKUT (Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education) have the same legal status as Norwegian trade certificates.

• Unskilled workers with no prior experience of the industry: 214.90 kroner (previous rate 207.40 kroner)

• Unskilled workers with at least one year’s experience of the industry: 223.80 kroner (previous rate 216 kroner)

• Employees aged under 18: 146.50 kroner (previous rate 139 kroner)

Cleaners

Employees performing cleaning work for private companies selling cleaning services must be paid a minimum hourly rate of:

 • 216.04 kroner (previous rate 204.54 kroner).

• Employees aged under 18: 165.05 kroner (previous rate 153.55 kroner).

Electrical trades

Employees who install, assemble, and maintain electrical systems for automation, data, telecommunications, and similar purposes must be paid a minimum hourly wage of:

• 242.34 kroner for skilled workers performing skilled work (previous rate 234.14 kroner)

• 213.66 kroner for other employees (previous rate 205.46 kroner)

Translated by Robert Lovering

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