Gender pay gap, Pay settlements, Sweden, Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Fagforbundet trade union reports that the outcome of negotiations in the industrial sector which delivered a central pay rise of 5.2% and extra benefits for the lower paid, provides a good basis for negotiations in the public sector. Fagforbundet is particularly focused on ensuring that all workers in the public sector get a good increase and that those with the least receive the most. The industry deal marks the end of a trend of several years of declining real wages in manufacturing. The 5.2% increase is ahead of the expected rise in prices of 4.1%. Industrial unions have also won an

Trade unions in the municipal sector have been negotiating with the SKR and Sobona employer organisations in local and regional government with differing outcomes so far. The Vision trade union, representing mainly white-collar workers has settled on the basis of a 3.3% general pay rise and commitments to a review of working hours and joint initiatives to deliver healthier workplaces. The Vårdförbundet health professionals’ union has gone to mediation mainly because it has major concerns over the employers’ proposals on working time and the work environment which it believes will mean worse

The SUFBIH civil servants’ union has signed a three-year agreement with the federal government that runs to the end of 2026. The union was pleased with the outcome after three months of negotiations and said the agreement showed how social dialogue could deliver. The agreement stipulates that the lowest salary in administrative bodies is 70% of the average salary in the Federation of Bosnia & Hercegovina and severance pay for retirement is the equivalent of five average salaries for civil servants. There are improvements to various allowances and supplements, including for on-call periods, and

The Kommunal municipal service workers’ trade union continues to negotiate collective agreements with a wide range of employers in a busy bargaining round. Workers in church and religious organisations are now covered by a new agreement running from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2025 while the agreement covering those in the sports sector applies from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2025. In both cases the pay increases are in line with the main labour market trend. In the religious organisations there will be average salary increases of SEK 1037 (€89) this year and SEK 961 (€83) next year

The Kommunal trade union has negotiated two two-year collective agreements with the Fremia employers’ organisation that covers non-profit service providers. In the agreement with Fremia covering personal assistance, wage increases will be negotiated around an amount of at least SEK 993 (€84) from 1 October 2023 and at least SEK 875 (€74) from 1 October 2024. Minimum wage rates will be increased by SEK 1,350 (€115) from 1 January 2024 and by SEK 875 (€74) from 1 January 2025 while all allowances and supplements will be increased by 4.1% and 3.3% on the same dates. In the civil society agreement

The ST civil servants’ union, part of the OFR/S,P,O group of negotiating unions, concluded a new collective agreement with the Swedish Agency for Government Employers on 30 September. The overall wage development will be 7.4% over two years in line with wage trends in the export industry sector. There will be local negotiations at individual workplaces to determine how the increase is allocated. The agreement also provides for an improved holiday supplement, extra leave so that both parents will be entitled to time off for maternity clinic appointments and increased job security, with a six

Planned industrial action on 15 September was called off when the Kommunal municipal services union agreed a mediated deal with the Visita company that provides catering services to hospitals. A key issue for the union was to ensure that the pay settlement included specific provisions for the lower paid which is a central demand in the current collective bargaining round. The agreement runs for two years from 1 September 2023 and will mean increases to the minimum wage of SEK 1350 (€116) in year one and SEK 1100 (€95) in year two. The pot for general increases will be SEK 1036 (€89) in the

EPSU affiliates Fagforbundet and Delta, along with other unions, have been involved in negotiating a series of similar pay deals for workers covered by different private sector collective agreements. Assistants and skilled workers in the PBL group of kindergartens got a NOK 25800 (€2200) addition on annual salaries while teachers and education leaders received NOK 30000 (€2560). The overall cost increase of 5.4% is in line with the public sector increase. A 5.4% rise will also cover childcare facilities run by Norlandia which has moved to the agreement negotiated by the Spekter employers’

The Kommunal trade union has negotiated a series of two-year agreements covering a wide range of workers including those working in building maintenance, sports facilities, veterinary care, animal care and training, agriculture and zoos and workplace plant services. The agreements follow the main labour market trend with a 7.4% increase over the two years, with 4.1% in the first year and 3.3% in the second. The agreement covering sports facilities provides for a specific pot for monthly increases for full-time employees of SEK 1029 (€87) in July 2023 and SEK 935 (€80) in July 2024.

Trade unions Kommunal and Vårdförbundet have negotiated a 29-month agreement covering the health and social care sector running from 1 May 2023 to 30 September 2025. Kommunal reports that the amount for increases for full-time employees on 1 May 2023 is SEK 1138 (€97) and SEK 1049 (€90) on 1 May 2024. The new minimum salary as of 1 October 2023 will be SEK 22203 (€1900) and SEK 24456 (€2090) for those with upper secondary education. The corresponding figures for 2024 will be SEK 23252 (€1990) and SEK 25505 (€2180). For Vårdförbundet the main elements include: salary increases in the first year

Kommunal and the Almega Vårdföretagarna employers’ organisation have negotiated two new collective agreements for employees working in private health and social care and eldercare both of which run from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2025. In the private health and social care agreement, the minimum wage will be increased by SEK 1350 (€115) in 2023 and by 3.5% in 2024. The general wage rises will be SEK 1156 (€100) in 2023 and SEK 995 (€85) in 2024. The new minimum salary as of 1 December 2023 will be SEK 21297 (€1830) with a rate of SEK 24013 (€2060) for professionals. These rates will rise to SEK

Following mediation the Kommunal trade union has backed a new agreement with the Gröna Arbetsgivare employers’ organisation covering around 3000 workers in horticulture. The union had been planning strike action following the employers’ initial refusal to increase minimum wages in the agreement in line with the general labour market trend. Wages will increase by 4.1% from 1 May 2023 and by 3.3% from 1 May 2024. Minimum wages will be increased by between SEK 1330 (€115) and SEK 1350 (€117) in the first year and there will also be an additional payment in 2024.

Municipal services union Kommunal has negotiated a new two-year collective agreement with the Fastigo employers’ organisation that covers municipal and other housing and property management services. The agreement runs from 1 May 2023 until 30 April 2025. The main salary increases are on average SEK 1207 (€108) from 1 May 2023 and SEK 1035 (€92) from 1 May 2024. The minimum wage rates in the agreement will increase by SEK 1350 (€121) to SEK 26160 (€2336) in May 2023 – around 5.4% while the 2024 increase of SEK 1035 (€92) will take the rate to SEK 27195 (€2429) – an increase of around 4%

Following targeted strike action, trade unions covered by the main private sector agreement with the NHO employers’ organisation have negotiated an hourly increase of NOK 7.5 (€0.65) for all workers plus an extra NOK 3.00 (€0.25) for the lower paid. The lower paid are categorised as workers in collective agreements where the average wage is 90% of the industry-wide average wage. For workers where pay is below 90% of the industry average and where there is no local bargaining the additional increase will be NOK 4.00 (€0.35). The LO trade union confederation sees this as one of the best deals

Following a successful strike over pensions at the PBL employers’ organisation, the Fagforbundet trade union has managed to secure improved occupational pensions for employees in kindergartens covered by the NHO Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. The four-week strike in NHO companies ended on 17 March with negotiations guaranteeing that the portion of public subsidies intended for pension purposes will be fully applied and that savings rates for pensions will also be guaranteed rather than varying from one kindergarten to another. The deal also means that employers are not tempted to