Working in Norway: minimum wage (minstelønn), generalisation of collective agreements (allmenngjøring av tariffavtaler)
These are the current minimum wages within nine industries in Norway
From 1 July 2021, everyone working within these industries has new statutory pay and working conditions.
MINIMUM WAGE: Norway has no statutory minimum wage for all workers. But in, among others, construction sites, cleaning, fish processing and agriculture the minimum wage of the collective agreement applies to everyone who works within these industries.
Håvard Sæbø
foreignworkers@lomedia.no
Within several industries in Norway, parts of the collective agreements (tariffavtaler) have been so-called generalised (allmengjort). This means that pay and working conditions are statutory throughout the industry.
This is done because these industries have a lot of foreign workers, with poorer pay and working conditions, which could outcompete the Norwegian conditions.
Who has responsibility?
The employer or the client for whom the work is performed must ensure that the rules are followed. Those who outsource work or rent work have the same responsibility, according to the General Application Act. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority can supervise pay and working conditions, issue orders and report cases to the police. Employers risk both fines and imprisonment if they do not abide by the law.
From 1 July 2021, the new statutory pay and working conditions apply within nine industries.
Remember that the regulations state a minimum! If you are covered by an agreement that gives you better pay and working conditions, these will apply.
Article in Polish: W Norwegii płace minimalne dotyczą dziewięciu branży
Article in Lithuanian: Minimalų darbo užmokestį Norvegijoje yra nustačiusios devynios pramonės šakos
If you work within one of these industries, you are entitled to the following:
1. Cleaning companies
Minimum 196,04 Norwegian kroner (NOK) per hour. Under 18 years of age: 146,27 NOK.
Supplement for work between 21.00 and 06.00: 27 NOK per hour.
2. Construction sites
Skilled workers: Minimum 220 NOK per hour. Unskilled without industry experience: 198,30 NOK.
Unskilled workers with a minimum of one year of industry experience: 206,50 NOK. Under 18 years of age: 132,90 NOK.
3. Electricians
Skilled workers performing skilled work: Minimum 225,15 NOK per hour. Others: 196,47 NOK.
Supplement for two-shift work: 38,28 NOK per hour. Three-shift work: 61,47 NOK.
4. Fish processing enterprises
Skilled workers: Minimum 205,55 per hour. Production workers: 193,55 NOK.
Under 18 years of age: Minimum 164,44 NOK per hour. Over 17 years of age who has worked 12 weeks for the company: Same pay as those over 18 years of age.
School students shall keep their salary seniority from one year to the next. Accrued salary seniority also applies when you have reached 18 years of age.
Supplement for two-shift work: Minimum 41,11 NOK per hour. Three-shift work: 51,39 NOK.
You may also be interested in this article: Temporary worker Isaac did not get the pay he was entitled to. This is how he earned 14 kroner more per hour
5. Freight transport by road
Minimum 185,50 NOK per hour.
6. Agriculture and horticulture
Holiday and harvest assistance under 18 years of age: Minimum 109,40 NOK per hour. Over 18 years of age and employed for up to 12 weeks: 129,40 NOK. Over 18 years of age and employed between 12 and 24 weeks: 134,90 NOK. Over 18 years of age and employed for more than 24 weeks: 149,30 NOK.
Permanently employed unskilled: Minimum 149,30 NOK per hour. Under 18 years of age: 118,90 NOK.
All relevant experience or education within horticulture and agriculture, or relevant for the position, shall be included in the salary seniority.
Supplement for skilled workers: Minimum 13 NOK per hour.
Supplement for breeders and farm relief workers on permanent rotas on Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, 1 May, 17 May and other public holidays: 25 percent per hour.
Apprentices: Minimum 104,51 NOK per hour.
Reimbursement of, for example, travel expenses, board and lodging shall not be counted as salary.
Related article: What is a collective agreement?
7. Hotel, restaurant, and catering
Workers who are 16 years of age: Minimum 114,08 NOK per hour. 17 years: 123,58 NOK. 18 years: 137,84 NOK.
Starting salary for workers over 20 years of age, or workers over 18 years of age with a minimum of four months of work experience: Minimum 175,47 NOK per hour.
Deduction in salary due to accommodation in the company, for single rooms: 582,16 NOK per month. Double room: 378,64 NOK per month.
8. The maritime construction industry
Skilled workers: Minimum 189,39 NOK per hour. Semi-skilled workers: 180,87 NOK. Unskilled workers: 172,44 NOK.
Supplement for skilled workers on work assignments with overnight stays away from home: Minimum 37,88 NOK per hour. Semi-skilled workers: 36,17 NOK. Unskilled workers: 34,49 NOK.
Supplement for second shift in two-shift work (36,5 hours per week): Minimum 20,10 NOK per hour. After 14.00 hours on Saturdays and days before public holidays: 42,96 NOK. From 14.00 hours on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, the Saturdays before Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday: 61,58 NOK. Every hour after 24.00 hours: 30,84 NOK.
Supplement for second shift in three-shift work (35,5 hours per week): Minimum 20,72 NOK per hour. Third shift: 32,57 NOK. After 14.00 hours on Saturdays and days before public holidays: 44,20 NOK. From 14.00 hours on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, the Saturdays before Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday: 63,32 NOK.
Supplement for second shift in continuous three-shift work (33,6 hours per week): Minimum 21,96 NOK per hour. Third shift: 32,57 NOK. After 14.00 hours on Saturdays and days before public holidays: 46,67 NOK. From 14.00 hours on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, the Saturdays before Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday: 66,91 NOK.
Supplement for overtime: Minimum 94,70 NOK per hour. Overtime between 21.00 hours and 06.00 hours, on Sundays and public holidays: 189,39 NOK.
9. Passenger transport by tour bus
Minimum 174,12 NOK per hour.
Working hours
Within the maritime construction industry, working hours have general application. The working hours should be no more than 37,5 hours per week. For shift work: 36,5 hours on average per week in two-shift work, 35,5 hours in three-shift work and 33,6 hours in continuous three-shift work.
Travel and board and lodging expenses
If you are sent on work assignments with overnight stays away from home within the maritime construction industry, your employer must cover travel expenses in Norway. The employer must also provide or cover board and lodging.
For electricians, workers on construction sites and in cleaning work the same rules apply for all travel with overnight stays away from home.
Within passenger transport by tour bus, your employer shall provide or cover board and lodging.
In case of freight transport assignments by road involving planned overnight stays, your employer must pay subsistence allowance in accordance with the rates for tax-free subsistence allowance. One-third of the subsistence allowance rate shall be paid for each eight-hour period commenced.
Clothes and shoes
Workers within the maritime construction industry, within cleaning and on construction sites, are also entitled to work clothes and shoes that are suitable for the work, the workplace and the season.
Source: New regulations on partial generalization within nine industries
Article in Norwegian: Her er den nye lovfesta minstelønna i ni bransjar
This is a news article from FriFagbevegelse, a Norwegian online newspaper about working life and the labor movement.
On our website, you will find more articles that are relevant for foreigners working in Norway. We write about rights, laws, and regulations for foreign workers in Norway.
