Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2008, publiée 98ème session CIT (2009)

Convention (n° 149) sur le personnel infirmier, 1977 - Norvège (Ratification: 1989)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which reads as follows:

Article 2, paragraphs 1 and 3, of the Convention. In its previous comment, the Committee had asked the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated to render the nursing profession more attractive, to slow down the rate of nurses leaving prematurely the profession and to improve the quality of nursing care. In its reply, the Government limited itself to stating that the Directorate of Labour Inspection was not aware of any special measures taken to attract persons to the profession and to retain them in it. The Committee wishes to recall once again the clear requirements of this Article of the Convention and hopes that the Government will take steps to supply in its next report substantive information on these matters. In the light of current challenges facing health-care systems in general, such as rising costs and restructuring of health services, advances in medical technology and work reorganization, or growing workload and stress, the Committee requests the Government to outline the objectives and priorities of its policy concerning nursing services and to elaborate on any time-bound action plan, programme or initiative, designed in consultation with the employers’ and workers’ organizations concerned, with a view to improving the quality of nursing care, promoting knowledge and skill enhancement for nursing personnel and ensuring sufficiently rewarding working conditions for the practice of the nursing profession.

Article 5, paragraph 2. Further to the point raised in its previous comments, the Committee is obliged to reiterate its request for copies of all collective agreements in force regulating remuneration and working conditions of nursing personnel employed in public or private hospitals, nursing homes and medical centres.

Article 5, paragraph 3. In the absence of any reply on this point, the Committee renews its previous request for specific information on dispute settlement procedures applicable to labour conflicts involving nursing personnel.

Article 6. The Committee notes that, according to observations made by the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), the amendment of section 50 of the 1977 Working Environment Act regarding the length of overtime work was proposed to the Parliament without prior consultations with the social partners. In the view of the workers’ organization, the Government has acted in violation of the Convention as it did not offer LO any real possibility to exert influence on the proposal. The Committee would appreciate receiving any comments the Government might wish to make in reply to these observations.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information concerning regulations No. 1322 of 19 December 1997 on protection against exposure to biological factors at work, as amended through to 2003. The Committee requests the Government to provide information of any new measures or initiatives regarding the adaptation of existing laws and regulations on occupational safety and health to the special nature of nursing work.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that there are no statistics available on the number of persons leaving the nursing profession. The Committee trusts that the Government will make every effort to collect and transmit in its next report full particulars on the number of nurses currently employed in public and private health-care institutions, the nurse-to-population ratio, and the number of students attending nursing schools. The Committee would also be grateful to the Government for supplying detailed information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance copies of official reports or studies addressing labour and employment issues concerning nursing services and nursing personnel, as well as any practical difficulties encountered in the implementation of the Convention.