Norway Speech State Secretary Vegard Einan BSPC 26 Aug 19

The Baltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceOslo, 26 August 2019State Secretary Vegard EinanNorwegian Ministry of Labour and Social AffairsThe Future of Working LifeThank you for the opportunity to address the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference!The future of work has been high-lighted this year.Not least because of the ILO-centenary.The ILO-report presented by the Global Commission, led by the Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Løfven, represent a significant contribution to the political agenda.Norway supports the human-centred approach outlined in the report.We must invest in people and develop their skills.We must invest in the institutions of work and secure decent and sustainable jobs.We are all, to some extent, experiencing that the labour market is changing.Globalization and digitalization create opportunities and growth, but can also be a challenge to the established arrangements and regulations that we have in our countries.Effective and comprehensive regulations and well-organized social partners on both sides are hallmarks of "the Nordic model".History tells us that our Nordic work life model has served us well.Dialogue between government and the social partners has made social reforms possible and brought forward valuable agreements, for instance on pension reform.It is very important that we study closely how new ways of organizing work can affect our labour market.This is the object of a research project launched by The Nordic Council of Labour Ministers, where researchers from the Nordic countries studies the transformations of labour markets resulting from digitalization, demographic change and new forms of employment and work.Permanent and direct employment must continue to be the main rule.Recently, we have tightened up the regulations.Our new regulation states that a prerequisite that must be attained if an employment is to be deemed permanent, is a guarantee for the amount of work.An employment contract must in addition provide information about when the work is to be performed.We are also considering whether the Labour Inspection Authority should get a more active role in enforcing the "hiring of workers"-regulations.Last week the Norwegian Government appointed a new commission where representatives from the social partners and independent experts will assess the consequences for working life and consider the need for updating labour law.Together with the social partners, we have also established a committee reporting on which competence and skills we need for the future.Education and vocational training plays a vital role in increasing access to the labour market.And in enhancing national development and growth.The skills we learn when we are young will not last for the whole of our working lives.Education and work have to be better coordinated to ensure a process of lifelong learning.Norway appreciate the initiatives that come from the EU especially through the European Pillar of Social Rights. The new directive on transparency and predictability for workers, and the establishment of the European Labour Authority (ELA) represent important steps forward.Workers' rights must be protected, and the internal market must be fair.This is a common challenge for all countries in the Nordic and Baltic region.However, the measures to tackle unfair competition and unfair working conditions could vary according to different labour market models of the countries.**We benefit greatly from the migration of skilled workers and the free movement of people in Europe.As do most European countries.It has advanced our economies.At the same time, we have seen that labour migration can put pressure on our labour market, wages and social benefits.We have also seen an increase in work-related crime.Typically, this is activities that violate legislation concerning wages and working conditions, social benefits and taxes.The element of multi-crime is a characteristic feature of what is defined as work-related crime.We cannot accept this.Immigrant workers have a higher risk of being exploited, since they are often willing to accept very poor pay and working conditions.This is a challenge for all European countries.We must take these concerns seriously.We need to work more closely together to combat labour exploitation and other forms of work-related crime.In 2015 the Norwegian Government introduced a Strategy to combat criminal activities related to working life.This Strategy was revised earlier this year.Focus on prevention has been heightened.We believe that a better basis of knowledge among the players in labour market and more targeted information will contribute to shrinking the market for criminal actors.However, combating crime and irresponsible working conditions is dependent on a broad and sustained cooperation in working life.Thus, it is important to collaborate with social partners and business actors to take the necessary actions.At national level cooperation has been strengthened between the Labour Inspection Authority, the Labour and Welfare Service, the police and the Tax Administration.The Norwegian Government is committed to combating crime in the European labour market, in close cooperation with the EU and the EU Member States.Already, a closer partnership between labour inspection authorities in our country and several central-European countries have been established.The labour inspectors are working together on concrete cases.They share information.They learn from each other.And together they are fighting the unfair and sometimes criminal practices that can be found in the European labour market.**To conclude, cooperation at all levels is urgent to combat work-related crime and exploitation of workers.An updated regulation is important, but not sufficient.It is urgent to maintain mutual trust and confidence in working life.We must seek cooperation between employers and employees, authorities and social partners and between authorities across borders to secure a sound working life for the future.