Hans Øyvind Nilsen – Adviser LO-Norway Our background and experiences
Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw Apr-15 side 2 Who we are Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO-Norway) Established in affiliated unions members More than 50% of our members are female Experienced participant in tripartite relations
Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw Apr-15 side 3 Some background from Norway: Norwegian labour force: persons Low inflation Very sound public finances, much due to petroleum resources Union density: 52 % No minumum wage, but generally high wages
Labour market – main figures High employment rate: 75% Low unemployment rate: 3.3% High female employment rate:72%
Norwegian Model – some basic features Mix of public and private responsibilities Firms and workers expected to handle change Family policy – women in the work force Cooperation between government, trade unions and employers organisations
Enterprise development and employee participation Broad class compromises established in the 1930s, initiating a long-lasting co-operative partnership between capital, labour and the state Social democracy, strong state in the financial market, state or mixed ownership in many of the major corporations Institutionalised cooperation between the labour market parties (the social partners) through collective agreements and national programmes for enterprise development on a national level Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw Apr-15 side 6
Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw side 7 LOs experiences with the EEA financial mechanisms: 2004 – 2009: (First term after enlargement) 2007: (Romania/Bulgaria joins) : (Renegotiations – expansion)
Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw side 8 Challenges in the past Capacity in recipient countries Complicated procedures Project attempts that failed during the past term: Estonia – Foreign ministry as “Focal point” Lithuania – “work migration center”
Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw side 9 New possibilities 2007: New financial mechanism for Romania and Bulgaria –Innovation Norway –New priorities: among them HSE –Our first projects – total of ca 1 mill euros 2009: New EEA financial mechanism from late December. –New fund for promotion of decent work and tripartite cooperation. 2011: Launching and information seminars – today!
Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw side 10 One project example – Bulgaria Timeframe: 1. June 2009 until 30. April 2011 Total budget: Euro, including in kind contribution. Partners: –LO Norway - Project Promoter –CITUB (Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (KNSB), Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of Republic of Bulgaria and General Labour Inspectorate Executive Agency
Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw side 11 Overall aim: The project will enhance social dialogue in the work place and introduce innovative measures for improvement and monitoring of the working conditions in the Bulgarian industry and healthcare services. The Project objectives are in compliance with the national policy for strengthening and building capacity of the Working Conditions Committees as a part of the system for Health, Safety and Environment in the work place in Bulgaria.
Strengthened the capacity of the Working Conditions Committees (WCCs) in the organisations/enterprises. Contributed to the enhancement of the social dialogue in the work place. Establishment of WCC’s networks in 6 pilot branches. Contribution to the implementation of the Law on health and safety at work in Bulgaria Results :