Rarely, the government, LO and NHO meet for a common cause. Today they are against Brussels and against the introduction of a minimum wage in Norway. They warn that this may result in a lower salary.
The recent President of the European Commission, German Ursula von der Leyen, highlighted a number of issues that she wants to promote in the first XNUMX days after the establishment of the new commission.
One of them was the proposal to introduce statutory minimum wages in the EU countries.
In Norway, he meets unanimous resistance. Which could mean that Norway will oppose Brussels and refuse to adopt an EU directive for the first time.
- bad idea
The Solberg government is silent on the matter to this day, but the Minister of Trade and Industry Torbjørn Røe Isaksen (H) said in an interview with VG that they would fight him.
- We agree with LO and NHO that this is a bad minimum wage idea in the EU, he says.
The Minister of Trade and Industry is concerned about the consequences of the minimum wage.
– This may mean lowering the lower ones wages in Norway, especially for those who earn the least.
He says they prefer to keep the Norwegian model where the social partners meet at the right level of wages, taking into account what Norwegian industrial firms can withstand wage increases, and the productivity differential and other factors affecting wages.
- It may seem plausible with a common minimum wage, but the argument that it will mean introducing lower wages in Norway is real: Imagine that we will achieve a common equal wage with Lithuania, Poland and other low wage countries; It is clear that a common minimum wage can mean lower wages for Norwegian workers.
– The second argument I would like to present is that we believe that the minimum wage moves the wage formation away from the party in professional life to politicians. We think this is wrong, says Trade and Industry Minister Isaksen.
- Would you have refused this directive?
- It's just a project. This is currently only a proposal that we will be working on.
W Norway introduced minimum wages in some areas through a so-called generalization, including construction, because wages were minimized due to the extensive use of workers from Eastern Europe.
- The NHO says no
NHO chief Ole Erik Almlid is also unanimous:
- The NHO says 'no' to the common EU minimum wage standard / policy and will not accept a proposal with a statutory common European minimum wage.
- why not?
- We don't want a minimum wage policy that threatens our wage formation, says Almlid.
He believes that the Norwegian wage-shaping system is working very well, as also pointed out by the OECD.
– Our system is based on collective bargaining between responsible parties at industry level, but with national coordination using a frontline model. At the same time, wage formation is flexible, with room for local agreements. It is important for Norway and we have to maintain it, says Almlid.
He says Norwegian forces must oppose the EU.
- It is now important that the parties work well together. It is important now that we get into the process early and that both LO, NHO and the government are working with our Scandinavian friends to make sure our views are reflected, thus preventing the introduction of a statutory common European minimum wage system. We have extensive experience in resolving problems at an early stage, so we are sure that the EU will not come up with a proposal that will affect wages.
LO: - Completely out of date
LO leader Hans-Christian Gabrielsen is also in favor.
- The statutory minimum wages are completely out of date in Norway. Wages will be determined in negotiations between the parties to the labor market. The statutory minimum wage only applies in countries where the trade union movement wants to and no longer has the power to ensure decent working conditions. This is not the case in Norway. Here, the statutory minimum wage will end up in a very negative calculation with lower wages for a great many workers.
- Moreover, the statutory minimum wage will disturb organized working life:
At the same time, it is important to clarify that the EU has no power to bind countries on wage-setting issues, it is a purely national responsibility, he says.
Original text by VG:
https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/rA320e/regjeringen-lo-og-nho-kjemper-mot-eu-minsteloenn-kan-gi-lavere-loenn-i-norge?utm_source=vgfront&utm_content=row-1
