On top of the economic crisis, Norway is facing a major jobs problem because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the past few weeks unemployment has risen from 2.3% to 10.9%, echoing levels unheard of since the 1930s. The wave of job losses is set to continue as 8 out of 10 businesses gear up for employment layoffs. In a bid to cope with the crisis, on 20 March and following several turbulent debates, Norway’s Parliament adopted a slew of provisional measures aimed at supporting companies as well as those losing their jobs. The measures however were not put forward by Erna Solberg’s minority right-wing ‘Thatcherite’ ruling government, but instead by the trade unions and employers.
The first provision is in the form of a looser Permittering (exemptions for employers to provide work and pay salaries during extraordinary circumstances). Previously companies had to give 14 days notice and pay 100% of salary for 15 days following work stoppages. Both time periods have been lowered to 2 days each.
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