In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on social security, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 102 (minimum standards), 128 (invalidity, old-age and survivors’ benefits), 130 (medical care and sickness benefits), and 168 (employment promotion and unemployment benefits) together.

Consolidated reporting on social security Conventions. Further to its previous request to complete the consolidated report on the application of the ratified social security Conventions, the Committee welcomes the Government’s initiative to review and update the information contained in the consolidated report. In doing so, the Government has replied to a range of questions previously raised by the Committee on the application of Conventions Nos 102, 128, 130, and 168. The Committee takes due note, in particular, of the statistical data provided on the persons protected, coverage and replacement rates of social security benefits, and of the information concerning the minimum duration of benefits, qualifying periods, and other conditions of entitlement.

Article 15(2) of Convention No. 128. Pensionable age. Further to its previous request on whether the increase in the pensionable age above 65 years met the conditions set out in Article 15(2) of the Convention, namely giving due regard to demographic, economic and social criteria which justify such an increase, the Committee notes the indication by the Government that from 1964 to 2019, life expectancy in Norway increased from 77 to 84.5 years for women and from 71 to 81 years for men. The Government further indicates that the number of pensioners increased to nearly one million persons by 2018. The Committee also observes from the OECD’s publication “The State of Health in the EU’s Country Health Profiles. Norway, 2019” that Norwegians at age 65 can expect to lead an additional 16 years of healthy life without disability. The Committee further observes from the website “Statistics Norway” that the percentage of employed persons of between 55 and 74 ages increased from 41.4 per cent in 1988 to 51.3 per cent in 2022. The Committee takes due note of this information.

Article 15(3) of Convention No. 128. Early retirement and entitlement to old-age pension for workers in arduous and unhealthy occupations. The Committee notes the indication by the Government that while the general pensionable age is 67 years, old-age pension can be drawn between 62 and 75 years of age (flexible retirement age). Entitlement to a pension between 62 and 67 years of age is possible if the level of the pension to which the person concerned would obtain at 67 is at least equal to the minimum pension level.

The Committee observes from the Government’s report that the total amount of old-age pension provided to a standard beneficiary, as defined in the Convention, at the age of 62 after a 20 year-qualifying period (NOK87,854) is higher than the minimum pension level at low rate based on an insurance period of 20 years (NOK79,311). The Government points out that a person under this scenario will therefore be entitled to an old-age pension at 62. The Government further indicates that the replacement rate of the old-age pension in this case would amount to 18.7 per cent of the standard beneficiary’s wage.

The Committee recalls that according to Article 15(3) of the Convention, if the pensionable age is 65 years or higher, the age shall be lowered, under prescribed conditions, in respect of persons who have been engaged in occupations that are deemed by national legislation, for the purpose of old-age benefit, to be arduous or unhealthy. The Committee further recalls that the purpose of this provision is intended to ensure additional protection, through a more favourable system, to persons employed on arduous or unhealthy work, by allowing them to draw an anticipated old-age pension, of which the rate and qualifying period must conform to Articles 17 (old-age pension’s rate) and 18 (minimum qualifying period) of the Convention. For this purpose, the calculation of the old-age pension drawn at 62 years must be based on a 30-year qualifying period, which is the standard qualifying period for the entitlement to an old-age pension at the minimum level required by the Convention, as stipulated in its Articles 17 and 26.

The Committee further observes that, in its calculations, the Government compares the total amount of old-age pension with the minimum pension level provided at low rate to a pensioner with a spouse who is in receipt of an old-age pension (NOK158,621 in 2020). According to the Government, however, a spouse who is inactive will not qualify for an old-age pension before attaining the age of 67. The Committee therefore considers that the total amount of an old-age pension should be compared with the minimum pension level provided at high rate when a pensioner’s spouse does not receive an old-age pension (NOK193,188) or at special rate for single pensioners (NOK208,690).

The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the possibility of workers in arduous and unhealthy occupations to draw a pension at an age lower than 65, according to the following scenarios:

-for a single person with the standard beneficiary’s wage who is 62 years old and with a 30-year qualifying period;
-for a person with the standard beneficiary’s wage who is 62 years old, with a 30-year qualifying period and a dependent spouse of the same age.

The Committee further requests the Government to indicate the replacement rates of old-age pensions under both scenarios. It also requests the Government to provide information on any other possibilities for early retirement, apart from the provisions on the flexible retirement age, under which workers in arduous and unhealthy occupations may retire earlier than 65 years, in line with Article 15(3) of the Convention.