– I have considered quitting regularly. But this is so fun to keep doing, and it’s so important that I can’t help it. So you swallow some camels as well and then you continue. That’s what Helge Edland says. For 20 years he has worked as a freelance interpreter for Nav where he is a written interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing. – It is a welfare service that is absolutely necessary for those we do the service for. This enables people to get an education and get a job. It completely falls apart if those who need it do not get an interpreter, he says. Freelance interpreters cover close to 80 percent of all interpreting hours for Nav, states a report (external link) from Oslo Economics. Edland travels all over the country on assignments, where one assignment can last a few hours or several days. He enjoys the work – but believes the conditions are too bad. – Must really have 30 per cent more Freelance interpreters are among those in society who have the lowest fee rate, which is based on salary step 29. They thus have no say in how much they are paid for the services they provide, as other freelancers usually can. And as an independent contractor, you have to save yourself for pension and holiday pay, have a buffer for sick pay, and insure yourself. This must be deducted from the salary paid. – We must actually have 30 per cent more than the usual hourly wage. Yes, it’s stupid that we don’t have the same rights as an employee, but as long as you get it back in kroner, it’s perfectly fine. The problem here is that we get much less than what we need. Read the response from Nav and the Ministry of Employment and Inclusion further down in the matter. Not going to give up Federation leader in the Academic Union, Mizanur Rahaman is not satisfied with the fee the freelance interpreters have. – The interpreting profession is important. The job is to secure basic rights for those who cannot make themselves understood by others. For this important job, freelance interpreters receive a fee, which in today’s society is ridiculously low. Union leader of the Academic Union, Mizanur Rahaman. Photo: Martin Ølander / Akademikerforbundet But the claim to be submitted to Nav is primarily about holiday pay. He believes it is particularly important that the freelance interpreters get this, seen in the light of the fee. – Our aim is that everyone who takes on assignments from Nav receives holiday pay. We believe that the freelance interpreters have such a close connection to Nav that they must receive the same benefits as the permanent employees, such as holiday pay. Because they don’t get that today, he says. – What do you do if Nav does not accept the claim? – We have no intention of giving up anytime soon. If Nav does not want to meet our demand, we will strongly consider legal action. Rahaman believes that the conditions today’s interpreters have to find themselves in can create problems for the future. – I would define working conditions as a very big problem. As bad as they are, they inhibit recruitment. We know there are many who work as freelance interpreters today who will not do so in the future. Edland works as an interpreter for the hearing impaired. These are the interpretation rates he works according to. – It is not appropriate to assess changes in the current fee system news has presented the criticism from the Association of Academicians for Nav. – We are committed to providing good interpreting services and the freelance interpreters are a very important part of Nav’s interpreting service. We will process the claim when we receive it, and then respond to the Academics’ Association, says department director at Nav, Jan Erik Grundtjernlien. When it comes to the fee, he refers to the Ministry of Employment and Inclusion. State Secretary in the Ministry of Employment and Inclusion, Ellen Bakken, says that Nav itself is working to change the practice. Jan Erik GrundtjernlienEllen BakkenState Secretary in the Ministry of Labor and Inclusion – Nav has, on a general and independent basis, come to the conclusion that there is a need to look at other procurement models for freelance assignments than the way it is solved today, and is now working on amending a framework agreement with one or more suppliers, says Bakken. What does a new framework agreement entail? Nav has around 250 staff interpreters who are located at the various aid centers. In addition, Nav buys interpreting services from around 380 freelance interpreters. The freelance interpreters sign up for the assignments they want to take on and are paid a fee by Nav. These service purchases are currently made directly from the freelance interpreters. Nav has come to the conclusion that there is a need to look at other procurement models for freelance assignments than the way it is solved today. We will carry out a competition and enter into a framework agreement with one or more mediation providers. Nav has already implemented this for interpreting services for spoken language interpretation. We have obtained input from both the interpreters’ organisations, the affected user organizations and potential suppliers via a market survey. The competition will be announced at Doffin and those interested in providing interpreters to NAV can sign up. Interpreter users must still contact Nav when they need an interpreter. A framework agreement with one or more suppliers means that Nav will turn to them in cases where Nav cannot meet the need for interpreters with its own employees. The supplier will associate a number of interpreters who can provide interpreting services. Source: Department director at Nav, Jan Erik Grundtjernlien. According to Bakken, this model will probably come into force in mid-2025. – It includes the working and salary conditions for freelance interpreters. The government is following up on this, and is therefore proposing NOK 40 million for such a change in the state budget for next year. – Will work be done to increase the fee for freelance interpreters? – In light of this, it is not appropriate to consider changes to the current fee system, says Bakken. Edland does not think this will improve working conditions. – Privatizing the interpreting service, I think, will only make matters worse. Yes, it will lead to an increase in the fee, but the conditions surrounding the assignments will be demolished. I think many will quit. Rahaman agrees with this. – The logic in this is difficult to understand. This is a problem that no one has asked to be solved, he says. Hello! Do you have any input or thoughts about the case you have read? Is there something that interests you that I should take a closer look at? Then I would like to hear from you! Published 15.10.2024, at 15.35
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Helge Edland is a freelance interpreter and has no rights. The Academic Union demands better conditions – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
