The Italian contractor responded by taking the Swedish Road Administration to court. This week the verdict came: The Swedish Roads Administration was fully entitled to reject Itinera from the billion-dollar project in Nordland, states the Oslo District Court, which has also ordered Itinera to pay court costs of NOK 1.3 million. – We are very happy that the verdict had this outcome. It is important for us and all entrepreneurs that we have a proper and good business life with correct payment in the form of salary or board and lodging. That’s what Kjell Inge Davik, director of development at the Norwegian Road Administration, says. It was in August that the Norwegian Road Administration chose to reject the Italian construction company Itinera. Kjell Inge Davik, director of development in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. The Italians wanted to be part of the tender for the 21-kilometre stretch of road between Megården and Sommerset, on the E6 north of Fauske in Sørfold municipality. The contract for the project is NOK 5.2 billion. After the deadline expired, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration received an anonymous tip. It turned out that several Danish court decisions established that several of Itinera’s subcontractors were being punished for social dumping. The Swedish Road Administration therefore chose not to approve the Italians’ request. – The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is obliged by Norwegian law to prevent social dumping and workplace crime at our facilities, says Davik. Denied social dumping The rejected contractor thought the accusations made by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration about social dumping were wrong. They believed it was their subcontractors who were responsible for it, and took the rejection to court by asking for a temporary injunction. This forced the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to put the tender competition on hold for the time being, but after a month and a half they can take up the tender competition again. Vegvesen resumes the competition for the E6 Megården-Sommerset without the Italian contractor. Photo: Statens Vegvesen Offered pig slaughter as payment The verdict in the Oslo District Court has also attracted attention in Denmark. Danmarks Radio writes that the Italian construction giant has received a red card in Norway. The Italian company has had three major assignments in Denmark according to FriFagbevegelse. • The hospital in Køge • The hospital in Odense • Storstrømsbroen According to FriFagbevegelse, wage theft and false signatures have been revealed at Itinera’s facility in Denmark. They quote the Danish newspaper Fagbladet3F, which through a series of cases has revealed what the working conditions are like at the construction projects of the Italian contractor. The most unusual case occurred when one of Itinera’s subcontractors in Denmark offered its employees three pig carcasses instead of cash. – It is very serious, and clearly the reason why we rejected them. These are conditions we do not want in Norway, says Davik. news has been in contact with lawyer Hanna Raanes, who represented Itinera in the Oslo district court. She does not want to comment on the verdict. news has also tried to get a comment from Itinera, but has not yet received a reply. – Wants to set the standard The ruling from the Oslo District Court states, among other things, that the construction giant has not done enough to ensure its subcontractors’ employees receive proper wages and working conditions. The case against Itinera was the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s first major case in this area. When the Norwegian Public Roads Administration put the NOK 5 billion construction project out to tender, they received five offers. Photo: Statens vegvesen – We were very excited, but are now happy that we can support and reinforce what the government has said about working hard against social dumping. He believes that the judgment sets a separate standard for the future in the construction industry. – When the law works as it does, we can weed out those who have a bad reputation. We will only have serious players with us. Important victory In Norway, the Norwegian Workers’ Union has familiarized itself with the prehistory of the Italian builder, and therefore followed the case closely. Union leader Brede Edvardsen in the Norwegian Workers’ Confederation. Photo: Sissel M.Rasmussen Confederation leader Brede Edvardsen says the verdict is an important and clear signal to the industry and other players. – It is absolutely necessary that they do a good job of being consistent and enforcing their own regulations, in order to avoid workplace crime. They make demands and follow up on the demands, and in this case it was important that they were right, says Edvardsen. Deputy head Palle Bisgaard in the Danish construction group in 3F says the case should also have consequences in Denmark. – We believe that large Danish public developers can use the same exclusion method as they have done in Norway, says Bisgaard to Danmarks Radio. Published 02.10.2024, at 19.18
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The Swedish Road Administration won against the Italian road giant – news Nordland
