Brussels, 22 October 2008: The ITUC released a new report today on core labour standards in Norway, to coincide with the country’s trade policy review at the WTO on 22 and 24 October 2008.
Norway has ratified all eight core labour conventions of the ILO. Despite having its legislation in general compliance with the principles emanating from these legally binding international instruments, the government still makes recourse to the use of “compulsory arbitration” to halt strikes and intervene in industrial disputes in nonessential services, going beyond the scope of the internationally recognised definition. The ILO, through its supervisory organs, has denounced repeatedly the misuse of this instrument by the government of Norway.
The report underlines the paradox between progressive legislation protecting the population against discriminatory policies and practices and persisting discrimination in terms of different wages between men and women for work of equal value.
There is no evidence of child labour in Norway. However, and despite cooperation with other countries and anti-crime organizations, there are still cases of trafficking for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation in the country, states the new ITUC survey.
The report ends with a summary of recommendations and conclusions addressed to the government of Norway in order to redress the above cases of noncompliance with ILO core labour standards.
Read the full TU Statement here: Report for the WTO General Council Review of the Trade Policies of Norway (Geneva 22-24 October 2008)
The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates.
For more information please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.
