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The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
Laws and Regulations
Laws
Working Environment Act
Chapter 20. Final provisions
Section 20-1.Entry into force

Act relating to the working environment, working hours and employment protection, etc. (Working Environment Act)

Section 1-1. The purpose of the Act

Section 1-2. The scope of the Act

Section 1-3. Offshore petroleum activities

Section 1-4. Undertakings with no employees, etc.

Section 1-5. Work performed at the home of the employee or employer

Section 1-6. Persons who are not employees

Section 1-7. Posted employees

Section 1-8. The employee and the employer

Section 1-9. Indispensability

Section 2-1. Duties of the employer

Section 2-2. Duties of the employer towards persons other than own employees

Section 2-3. Employees' duty to cooperate

Section 2-4. (Repealed)

Section 2-5. (Repealed)

Section 2 A-1. The right to report issues of concern in the undertaking

Section 2 A-2. Procedure in connection with reporting issues of concern

Section 2 A-3. The employer's duty in connection with reporting issues of concern

Section 2 A-4. Prohibition against retaliation

Section 2 A-5. Redress and compensation in case of violation of the prohibition against retaliation

Section 2 A-6. Obligation to prepare procedures for internal whistleblowing

Section 2 A-7. Duty of confidentiality in connection with external whistleblowing to the public authorities

Section 2 A-8. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal

Section 3-1. Requirements regarding systematic health, environment and safety work

Section 3-2. Special safety precautions

Section 3-3. Occupational health services

Section 3-4. Assessment of measures for physical activity

Section 3-5. The employer's obligation to undergo training in health, environment and safety work

Section 3-6. (Repealed)

Section 4-1. General requirements regarding the working environment

Section 4-2. Requirements regarding arrangement, participation and development

Section 4-3. Requirements regarding the psychosocial working environment

Section 4-4. Requirements regarding the physical working environment

Section 4-5. Particularly concerning chemical and biological health hazards

Section 4-6. Particularly concerning adaptation for employees with reduced capacity for work

Section 5-1. Recording injuries and diseases

Section 5-2. The employer's notification obligation

Section 5-3. Medical practitioners' notification obligation

Section 5-4. Manufacturers and importers of chemicals and biological substances

Section 5-5. Manufacturers, suppliers and importers of machines and other work equipment

Section 6-1. Obligation to elect safety representatives

Section 6-2. Duties of safety representatives

Section 6-3. The safety representative's right to halt dangerous work

Section 6-4. Special local or regional safety representatives

Section 6-5. Costs, training, etc.

Section 7-1. Obligation to establish working environment committees

Section 7-2. The duties of the working environment committee

Section 7-3. Special local working environment committees

Section 7-4. Costs, training, etc.

Section 8-1. Obligation regarding information and consultation

Section 8-2. Implementation of the obligation regarding information and consultation

Section 8-3. Confidential information

Section 8-4. Information and discussion in corporate groups

Section 9-1. Conditions for control measures in the undertaking

Section 9-2. Consultations, information and evaluation of control measures

Section 9-3. Obtaining health information on the appointment of employees

Section 9-4. Medical examinations of job applicants and employees

Section 9-5. Access to employees' e-mail inboxes, etc.

Section 9-6. Camera surveillance

Section 10-1. Definitions

Section 10-2. Working hour arrangements

Section 10-3. Work schedule

Section 10-4. Normal working hours

Section 10-5. Calculating average normal working hours

Section 10-6. Overtime

Section 10-7. Account of working hours

Section 10-8. Daily and weekly off-duty time

Section 10-9. Breaks

Section 10-10. Work on Sundays

Section 10-11. Night work

Section 10-12. Exceptions

Section 10-13. Settlement of disputes

Section 11-1. Prohibition against child labour

Section 11-2. Working hours

Section 11-3. Prohibition against night work

Section 11-4. Medical examinations

Section 11-5. Breaks and time off

Section 12-1. Prenatal examinations

Section 12-2. Pregnancy leave

Section 12-3. Leave of absence to care for a child

Section 12-4. Maternity leave

Section 12-5. Parental leave

Section 12-6. Partial leave of absence

Section 12-7. Duty to provide notification

Section 12-8. Time off for nursing mothers

Section 12-9. Child's or childminder's sickness

Section 12-10. Care and nursing of close relatives and/or other close persons

Section 12-11. Educational leave

Section 12-12. Military service, etc.

Section 12-13. Public office

Section 12-14. Settlement of disputes

Section 12-15. Religious holidays

Section 12-16. Regulations in connection with an outbreak or danger of an outbreak of a communicable disease hazardous to public health

Section 13-1. Prohibition against discrimination

Section 13-2. Scope of this chapter

Section 13-3. Exceptions from the prohibition against discrimination

Section 13-4. Obtaining information on the appointment of employees

Section 13-5. (Repealed)

Section 13-6. Preferential treatment

Section 13-7. Duty of disclosure

Section 13-8. Burden of proof

Section 13-9. The effects of breach of the discrimination prohibition

Section 13-10. Right of organisations to act as an agent

Section 14-1. Information concerning vacant posts in the undertaking

Section 14-1 a. (Repealed)

Section 14-1 b. Full-time and part-time employment

Section 14-2. Preferential right to a new appointment

Section 14-3. Preferential rights of part-time employees

Section 14-4. Effects of a breach of the provisions concerning preferential rights

Section 14-4 a. Part-time workers' entitlement to a post equivalent to actual working hours

Section 14-4 b. Consequences of breaches of part-time workers' entitlement to a post equivalent to actual working hours

Section 14-5. Requirements regarding a written contract of employment

Section 14-6. Minimum requirements regarding the content of the written contract

Section 14-7. Employees posted abroad

Section 14-8. Changes in the employment relationship

Section 14-8 a. Request for more predictable and safe working conditions

Section 14-9. Permanent and temporary appointment

Section 14-10. Fixed-term appointments

Section 14-11. Effects of breaches of the provisions concerning permanent and temporary appointments

Section 14-12. Hiring workers from undertakings whose object is to hire out labour (temporary-work agencies)

Section 14-12 a. Equal treatment regarding pay and working conditions in connection with the hiring out of workers by temporary-work agencies

Section 14-12 b. The obligation to provide information and the right of access to information when hiring workers from temporary- work agencies

Section 14-12 c. Joint and several liability for user undertakings

Section 14-13. Hiring workers from undertakings other than those whose object is to hire out labour

Section 14-14. Consequences of unlawful hiring of employees

Section 14-14 a. Discussion concerning employment

Section 14-15. Payment of salary and holiday pay

Section 14-16. Staff rules

Section 14-17. Establishment of staff rules

Section 14-18. Time limit for submitting staff rules

Section 14-19. Validity of staff rules

Section 14-20. Amendments to staff rules

Section 14 A-1. Non-compete clauses

Section 14 A-2. Statements in connection with non-compete clauses

Section 14 A-3. Compensation on invoking a non-compete clause

Section 14 A-4. Non-solicitation of customers clauses

Section 14 A-5. Exceptions regarding the undertaking's chief executive

Section 14 A-6. Non-solicitation of employees clauses

Section 15-1. Consultations before decisions regarding dismissal with notice

Section 15-2. Information and consultation in connection with collective redundancies

Section 15-3. Periods of notice

Section 15-4. Formal requirements regarding notice of dismissal

Section 15-5. Consequences of formal errors in connection with a notice of dismissal

Section 15-6. Protection against dismissal in contracts of employment specifying a trial period

Section 15-7. Protection against unfair dismissal

Section 15-8. Protection against dismissal in the event of sickness

Section 15-9. Protection against dismissal during pregnancy or following the birth or adoption of a child

Section 15-10. Protection against dismissal in connection with military service, etc.

Section 15-11. The employee's right to remain in his post

Section 15-12. Consequences of unfair dismissal, etc.

Section 15-13. Suspension

Section 15-13 a. Termination of employment on account of age

Section 15-14. Summary dismissal

Section 15-15. References

Section 15-16. The chief executive of the undertaking

Section 15-17. Dismissal in connection with labour disputes

Section 16-1. Scope of this chapter

Section 16-2. Pay and working conditions

Section 16-3. Right of reservation, etc.

Section 16-4. Protection against dismissal

Section 16-5. Information and consultation with elected representatives of the employees

Section 16-6. Information to the employees

Section 16-7. Representation

Section 17-1. Disputes concerning working conditions

Section 17-2. Dispute Resolution Board

Section 17-2 a. Time limit for submission of matters to the Dispute Resolution Board

Section 17-2 b. Rehearing

Section 17-2 c. Correction and supplementary decisions

Section 17-3. The right to demand negotiations

Section 17-4. Time limits for instituting legal proceedings in disputes concerning dismissal with notice, summary dismissal, suspension, etc.

Section 17-5. Extension of time limits and reinstatement of cases in respect of dismissal during sickness, pregnancy, parental leave, military service, etc.

Section 17-6. Panels of lay judges

Section 17-7. Appointment of lay judges

Section 18-1. The Labour Inspection Authority

Section 18-2. Protection of sources of information

Section 18-3. Fees

Section 18-4. Access of the Labour Inspection Authority to the undertaking

Section 18-5. Information

Section 18-6. Orders and other individual decisions

Section 18-7. Coercive fines

Section 18-8. Halting of work

Section 18-9. Consent of the Labour Inspection Authority for the erection of new buildings, etc.

Section 18-10. Administrative fines

Section 18-11. Mutual assistance in connection with recovery and notification of financial administrative sanctions

Section 19-1. Liability of proprietors of undertakings, employers and persons managing undertakings in the employer's stead

Section 19-2. Liability of employees

Section 19-3. Liability for enterprises

Section 19-4. Liability for obstructing public authorities

Section 19-5. Public servants

Section 19-6. Prosecution

Section 19-7. (Repealed)

Section 20-1. Entry into force

Section 20-2. Transitional provisions

Section 20-3. Amendments to other Acts

Section 20-1. Entry into force

The Act shall enter into force on the date decided by the King.¹

1 Pursuant to the Decree of 17 June 2005 No. 609, the Act entered into force on 1 January 2006 with the following exceptions and specifications: – Section 10-12, sixth paragraph, entered into force on 1 July 2005. – Section 14-9, fifth paragraph, second sentence, shall not apply to temporary contracts of employment that are active on the date of the Act's ordinary entry into force. – In the case of dismissals that took place prior to the Act's entry into force, the Act of 4 February 1977 No. 4 section 61 (4) relating to Worker Protection and Working Environment, etc. shall apply. – For employees who, on the date of the Act's ordinary entry into force, hold a particularly independent post, in so far as the employee remains in this post, chapter 10 of the Act shall enter into force on 1 January 2011 (according to the Ministry, this postponement of entry into force is no longer relevant following amendment of the provisions by the Act of 21 December 2005 No. 121 to be enforced on 1 January 2006). Section 10-2, first, second and fourth paragraph, nevertheless entered into force on 1 January 2006. – Entry into force of section 2-4 shall be decided later. (However, it seems intended that section 2-4 shall enter into force since it was amended by the Act of 1 December 2006 No. 64, in force 1 January 2007 pursuant to the Resolution of 1 December 2006 No. 1324.)

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