Currently in Norway you work 40 hours or 38 and 36 hours in shifts. Erna Solberg - Prime Minister of Norway - is considering, however, introducing extended working hours in Norway to 43 hours per week. This will happen if employment in Norwegian enterprises is not increased. According to the Prime Minister, it is necessary in order to keep social welfare at the current level.
Working time in Norway - the present state
According to the Norwegian National Labor Inspectorate (Norwegian: Arbeidstilsynet), the current working time in Norway cannot exceed 9 hours a day and 40 hours a week. However, the situation is different in the case of shift workers or those working at night and on Sundays weekly working time in Norway it cannot exceed 38 or 36 hours. The length and schedule work must result from the contract concluded between the employee, and the employer.
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Extended working hours in Norway
In an interview with DN.no, Erna Solberg admits that the Norwegian government is considering extending working hours to 43 hours per week. This may happen if employment in enterprises does not increase and remains at the current level. This is linked to the need to pay for functioning social welfare, the financing of which may be at risk if the number of people in work does not increase.
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6-day work week
Increasing the working day standard is also being considered. There is currently a 5-day working week. It is possible, however, that this will change soon. The government is working on making labor law more flexible, which will contribute to increasing the employment opportunities for new employees. The aim of these changes is to increase the number of women working full-time, as well as a greater number of working immigrants. The introduction of a 6-day working week is one of the proposals.
Erna Solberg, speaking about the changes, declared at the same time that the government's intention was not only to extend the working time in Norway. At the same time, she warned against abbreviating these standards. It thus referred to the proposal of the SV, MDG and Rødt parties to introduce a 6-hour working day.
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Budget perspectives
Concerns about the financing of social welfare stem from poor economic and demographic forecasts. It is predicted that there will be a sharp increase in the number of elderly and retired people in the near future. Lower revenues from the refining industry are also projected, as well as a slowdown in the increases in the Norwegian Government Pension Fund. According to Erna Solberg, in this perspective and with the current state of employment, cuts in social welfare will be necessary. Therefore, it is likely that working hours in Norway will be extended.
