The need for new working time regulations in the Working Environment Act : FrP

The need for new working time regulations in the Working Environment Act

The need for modernization of the Working Environment Act, to measure up with developments in the labor market, was an important discussion at the Progress Party Annual Convention this year. The MP,Robert Eriksson, chair of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Affairs, is satisfied with the outcome at the debate. – It’s time for a renewal in the labor market, and it’s only the Progress Party who dears to touch upon this issues in Norway, he says.

The resolution

Employees' life is constantly changing. We travel more and prioritize continuous leisure activities, volunteer work and time to work differently than before. What was an appropriate protection regime 20-30 years ago, is not necessarily relevant today. With technological tools many occupations can be performed regardless of time and place. Work is more a condition than a connection to the workplace.

The Progress Party therefore believes that the concept of working time is ready for revision. Different sectors and workers have different needs. The actual threats to individual health and welfare can vary greatly, like working life in general. The possibility of rest after intense working hours varies.

Legislation is poorly adapted to the needs of working life. These include the community in vital areas such as transportation, health care, where there is a need for activity throughout the day, weekends and holidays. The same need is also present in a working area based on knowledge.

In municipal health care sector, the "North Sea Shifts" with long working sessions and subsequent long periods off work, is wanted by many workers.

Norway has the highest employment in the world among women. When both men and women are represented in the workplace, often in 100 per cent positions, flexible arrangements are essential. Unfortunately, the law is not giving sufficiently flexible access to such schemes.

The Progress Party believes that working arrangements that are better adapted to society and the individual employee's needs is essential. The Progress Party has noted that 6 out of 10 employers believe that greater flexibility in working arrangements will also help to include more people who currently fall outside the workplace, and that 4 in 10 believe that the working time regulations to a limited extent reflects the employees' need for flexibility in various stages of life, cf. Spekter’s employer survey 2011.

The vast majority of workers is engaged and will be measured on results, not attendance. The Progress Party recognizes that workers and employers are mutually interdependent. Tomorrow's employment is dependent on a framework characterized legislation that can work out for the entire working environment, all industries, sectors and all categories of workers. On this basis, the national congress of the Progress Party advocates less detailed regulations with greater flexibility.

The law will of course protect workers from abuse and ensure proper health and safety of Norwegian jobs.

The Progress Party's national convention will:

that the current law of normal working hours is maintained. Shorter working hours can still be arranged either through a collective agreement or the agreement of the individual.
that the overtime provisions relating to voluntary overtime is softened and liberalized, provided that the total working time generally does not exceed 13 hours within 24 hours or 48 hours over seven days, as the rules are today.
that the limit on maximum working hours in one week shall not exceed 60 hours, or exceed 48 hours on average over 8 weeks. The current provisions for payment of, and imposition of overtime, continue.
that it is allowed up to 400 hours overtime a year. (At present 200 hours)
that the weekly rest period shall preferably be on Sundays, but liberalize the rules for who can perform Sunday work.
that The Act's provision on night work should be made more flexible, and extend access to several types of activities to night work.
allow "North Sea shifts" and other alternative shifts in the health care sector, and service industry. Alternative shifts to be negotiated locally. This means that the central trade unions right of veto against the alternative rotations is removed, and that approval of alternative working arrangements are added to the Labour Inspection.
legal protection of layoffs, so that all workers are guaranteed the same rights as employees with collective agreements.
remove the provision that employment may be terminated, with no other objective justification, when the employee turns 70.
make the Work Environment Act to a frame marked law working for full employment, for all industries, sectors and all categories of workers.