Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156) - Norway (Ratification: 1982)

Article 1 of the Convention. Scope of application. The Committee notes with interest the amendment to the first paragraph of section 12-10 of the Working Environment Act (WEA) extending the personal scope of the provision concerning the right to care for family members in the terminal stage of an illness from “close relatives” to a “person being close to the patient”. This means that the personal scope now also includes friends, neighbours or other persons in the local community with whom the patient has a close relationship and from whom they feel comfortable receiving care. The Committee notes that the 60 days of care benefit is per patient and may be used flexibly including being shared by several caregivers. The Committee also notes, in the second paragraph, the inclusion of the right to leave up to ten days per year for a worker to provide “necessary care” to their parents, spouse, live-in or registered partner and that the types of care that qualify as “necessary” is an assessment to be made in each specific case. The “necessary care” leave does not entitle the worker to a care benefit to compensate for a loss of income. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the practical application of section 12 of the WEA, including relevant statistical information and any assessments undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the WEA in promoting the balancing of work and family responsibilities for men and women without discrimination.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.