Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 1995, publiée 82ème session CIT (1995)

Convention (n° 87) sur la liberté syndicale et la protection du droit syndical, 1948 - Norvège (Ratification: 1949)

The Committee notes the Government's reports as well as the observations of the Federation of Offshore Workers' Trade Unions (FOWTU).

In its previous observation, the Committee's comments had concerned the need to remove the restrictions imposed on the right to strike by legislative means in the oil industry through the imposition of compulsory arbitration. The Committee had noted the Government's statement that the tripartite Labour Law Council, an advisory agency to the authorities in matters of labour legislation, was preparing a proposal for a new labour disputes act which would provide for a dispute settlement system along the lines suggested by the Committee.

The Government now indicates that the Labour Law Council will need more time to complete its work since the preparation of a report proposing a new labour disputes act was a complicated task as any basic changes needed to have the full support of the major workers' and employers' organizations. According to the Government, the Council had looked into various bargaining systems functioning in different European countries, and was trying to find a system which was consistent with national concerns and traditions. Based on the report of the Council and the comments received from the organizations concerned, the Government would then prepare and put forward a bill proposing a new labour disputes act.

The Committee trusts that the bill will take account of its previous comments concerning the restrictions or the prohibitions on the right to strike which are compatible with the principles of freedom of association, and encouraging the maintenance of a negotiated minimum service defined by workers and employers in the event of a labour dispute in the oil sector. It requests the Government to keep it informed of any developments in this respect which would bring its legislation into conformity with the Convention.