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Our background and experiences. Hans Øyvind Nilsen – Adviser LO-Norway. Who we are. Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO-Norway) Established in 1899 22 affiliated unions 867 000 members More than 50% of our members are female Experienced participant in tripartite relations.
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Our background and experiences Hans Øyvind Nilsen – Adviser LO-Norway
Who we are Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO-Norway) • Established in 1899 • 22 affiliated unions • 867 000 members • More than 50% of our members are female • Experienced participant in tripartite relations Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw 14.06.2006
Some background from Norway: • Norwegian labour force: 2 450 000 persons • Low inflation • Very sound public finances, much due to petroleum resources • Union density: 52 % • No minumum wage, but generally high wages Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw 14.06.2006
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 14.06.2006
LOs experiences with the EEA financial mechanisms: • 2004 – 2009: (First term after enlargement) • 2007: (Romania/Bulgaria joins) • 2009-2014: (Renegotiations – expansion) Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw 14.06.2006
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 14.06.2006
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 14.06.2006
One project example – Bulgaria • Timeframe: 1. June 2009 until 30. April 2011 • Total budget: 533 220 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 14.06.2006
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. Tittel på foredrag - kan endres i vis > topptekstWarshaw 14.06.2006
Results: • 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