Norwegian Part-Time Workers Gain Overtime Rights

Why this is here: Fafo research estimates between 30,000 and 37,000 full-time equivalent years of work are currently performed beyond contracted hours by part-time employees in Norway each year.

LO-nestleder Henriette Jevnaker reports two Norwegian courts recently ruled part-time employees are entitled to overtime pay from the first hour beyond their scheduled work. This decision, stemming from EU law incorporated through the EEA agreement, is considered a major shift in Norwegian labor practices—comparable to the introduction of the eight-hour workday.

Employers are currently contesting the rulings, appealing both cases to higher courts. A government-appointed expert group will propose solutions by September 1, but employer organizations already advise against offering extra shifts to part-time staff. Jevnaker argues employers should adapt immediately, as the legal basis is already established.

Spekter, an employer organization, commissioned a study revealing 26% of full-time employees might reduce hours if overtime pay increased. Estimates for potential back pay to part-time workers reach roughly 10 billion kroner annually, though Jevnaker believes adjustments can significantly lower this figure. The work of defining these new practices continues.