Working life

Norway has a well-organised labour market built on cooperation between employers, employees, and the government — often called the ‘Nordic model’ or the tripartite system. Trade unions (fagforeninger) play a central role, and a large share of Norwegian workers are union members. Collective agreements (tariffavtaler) set standards for wages, working hours, and conditions.

Employees in Norway enjoy strong legal protections under the Working Environment Act (arbeidsmiljøloven). The standard working week is 37.5 hours. All employees are entitled to at least 25 working days of holiday per year, and overtime must be compensated. Discrimination in hiring is prohibited, and both parents have generous parental leave rights.

The Norwegian tax system funds the welfare state. Everyone who works in Norway pays taxes, which finance healthcare, education, pensions, and other public services. Getting a tax deduction card (skattekort) and a Norwegian identification number (fødselsnummer or D-nummer) are essential first steps for employment.