Japan, Norway, Kyrgyzstan

The latest response to the EPSU survey provides details of the 2005 agreement covering 4,000 workers in the Norwegian electricity sector - the companies still owned by local and regional government. The agreement runs from 1 June 2005 to 30 April 2006 and includes a 3.5% increase in pay which includes an estimate of the outcome of local negotiations. Inflation in Norway was 1.6% in the year to May, up from 1.3% in April.

Our Norwegian affiliate, EL&IT, has sent us this report. Strike action began on 21 June after negotiations over a new pay agreement for the period 2006-2008 failed. Our main demands to the employers were: · Influence in local bargaining; · Regulations to prevent social dumping; and · Regulations when workers are travelling in their work (standards of sleeping, restrooms and so on.) The major problem that led to the strike has been that the employer denies us influence in local bargaining. The companies demand absolute control over which of our members shall be given a raise. We cannot accept

The government has set up a commission of researchers to investigate the persistent gender pay gap, according to the EIRO industrial relations observatory. The commission will report its recommendations to the government by the end of March 2008. The social partners are not represented directly on the Commission but will be involved in the process through a consultative group. One issue the Commission will consider is whether legal changes are necessary to tackle the longstanding pay differences between occupations and industries traditionally seen as male and female. [Read more at > EIRO (EN)

Regulatory authorities in Norway are getting more funding to help them monitor wages and working conditions in sectors employing migrant workers, according to the EIRO industrial relations observatory. There is already legislation requiring compliance with Norwegian pay and conditions for migrant workers and further legislation is planned to help maintain standards. In particular, proposed regulations could be introduced to ensure that contracting companies make sure that the companies they use as sub-contractors comply with collective agreements. [Read more at > EIRO (EN)->http://www.eiro

Negotiations last week between Norwegian unions, the NHO employers' organisation and the government ended with a positive result for the trade unions as the government agreed to extra funding to continue to provide early retirement pensions. The official retirement age in Norway is 67 but workers can retire from 62 on a slightly reduced pension. The agreement ensures that workers still have this option as well as being able to continue working. The negotiations also resulted in a 5.6% pay increase covering mainly private sector workers, with higher increases for the lower paid. The collective

Airport workers began strike action on 16 May in support of changes in their pay system. Over the following days some 400 workers, many with responsibilities for rescue and emergency services, in 13 airports around the country joined the action until a new agreement was negotiated late on 20 May. The agreement does not just provide for a higher pay increase overall but includes larger payments for working outside normal hours and at weekends. The general pay increase will be at least 19,000 Kr (€2,400) a year. [Read more at > Aftenposten news (EN)->http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local

A pay settlement for workers in the municipal sector is out for ballot following strike action. Details of the deal will be circulated shortly. The result in the state sector is also out on a ballot among the membership. The recommended result is a yearly increase estimated at 6.1% with a general pay rise of between €2008 and €4016 per year or approx 7% for the lower pay grades and just under 4% for the highest. In addition to this general increase, 1% is set a side for wage regulation negotiations (July) and 1.3% for local negotiations. The local parties have to monitor the gender pay gap and

Planned strike action by public sector workers was called off when negotiations were finally concluded at 5am on 4 June. Unions were pleased with the outcome as it means that there are no major changes to the pensions arrangements in the public sector. Pay negotiations were also concluded with local government workers set to get 3.1% with a minimum increase of 9000 NOK a year. [Read more at > Fagforbundet (NO)-> http://www.frifagbevegelse.no/fagbladet/article4374683.ece] [And at > NTL (NO)-> http://www.ntl.no/portal/page/portal/PG_NTL_NO/ALLE_2008/Artikkelside?p_d_i=-1&p_d_c=&p_d_v=11832&p_d_i

The HRH commercial and services employers’ organization has called on the government to allow greater flexibility in working time in response to the impact of widespread flu infection across Norway. The organization claims that a flu epidemic could double the number of workers off sick and that employers need to be able to change shift arrangements at short notice. The Fagforbundet municipal union has rejected this arguing that there is enough flexibility in the current working time rules that allow for shift changes and overtime. The YS civil service union has also expressed surprise that HRH