The case summarized: Martin Tobias Martinsen (24) has been unemployed since May and does not receive unemployment benefit from Nav. He also does not receive support from the fishermen’s own unemployment benefit scheme, Garantikassen, or from the Norwegian Seamen’s Association. Martinsen fishes on a lot, which is the most common form of pay in the Norwegian fisheries, but this does not entitle him to daily allowance due to a change in the law. Erlend Hansen in the Norwegian Seamen’s Association believes that the situation for Martinsen is sad and that many fisheries organizations are critical of the change in the regulations. Martinsen is now considering looking for a job in another profession. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Martin Tobias Martinsen (24) has spent four years of his life becoming a fisherman. But since May he has been unemployed because he cannot get a job. And Nav’s regulations do not allow him to receive unemployment benefits. Nor does he receive support from the fishermen’s own unemployment benefit scheme. – I have used the last leftovers I have. They disappear quickly. The flat and other necessary things do not pay for themselves. – I become uncertain about my future and what will happen. I am afraid that what I have managed to build up will disappear. Martin Tobias Martinsen (24) has spent four years of his life becoming a fisherman. Now he doesn’t have a job. Photo: Vilde Bratland Erikstad / news Feeling disenfranchised Martinsen is afraid that what he has built up will disappear. – I am without rights in the welfare state of Norway. Now I’ve been going for three years and probably paid over a million in taxes. And when I need help, there is no help to be had. Martinsen has completed his apprenticeship and worked for three years as a temporary worker, something he has excelled at. He fishes by lot, which has been the most common form of pay in the Norwegian fisheries. And it is precisely this that is now his problem. Therefore, he checked out two other options: the Norwegian Seamen’s Union, in which he is organized. Garantikassen, which, among other things, stands for its own guarantee scheme for fishermen who need daily allowance. He did not reach any of them. Photo: Vilde Bratland Erikstad / news Norwegian Seamen’s Association To get help from the Guarantee Fund, he must be in the Fisherman’s Number. There is a register of persons living in Norway who have fishing or catching in the sea as: main occupation, so-called sheet B or secondary occupation, so-called sheet A In order to get support here, the message was that he had to appear on sheet B. But in order to appear on sheet B, Martinsen must be connected to a fishing vessel, either by virtue of owning one himself, or being crew on board a vessel. This is confirmed by Håvard Fause, who is acting section manager for the vessels and participants section in the Directorate of Fisheries. And it’s not Martinsen. As a result, he does not receive support from Nav, Garantikassen or the union. – Do you think that Nav should have deviated from its rules for you, when the rules are the same for others? – I think there should be an exception for people who cannot enroll in the Fiskarmantalet, replies Martinsen. Garantikassen Garantikassen is an enterprise that falls under the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries. There is, in a sense, a separate daily allowance scheme for fishermen. The purpose of the guarantee fund for fishermen is to guarantee workers a weekly minimum income while fishing, through what is known as the guarantee scheme. Garantikassen must implement a scheme with daily allowance during unemployment in connection with fishing. They will also implement a holiday scheme for fishermen. The guarantee fund for fishermen was established in 1980, and is a continuation of the guarantee fund for lot fishermen (established in 1956) and the guarantee fund for percentage fishermen and catchers (established in 1936). Source: Store norske lexikon and garantikassen.no Does not fulfill the requirement – On a general basis, it is the case that salary via lot, i.e. business income, does not give the right to unemployment benefit. This is answered by Jens Mykland, who is a senior adviser at Nav and refers to a change in the law in 2022: Previously, there was a special rule in the National Insurance Act Section 4-18 which gave the right to unemployment benefits under certain conditions. Jens Mykland, senior advisor at Nav. Photo: Nav This was abolished from 1 January 2022, so that daily allowance is no longer given based on business income. This means that Martinsen’s salary after completing his apprenticeship does not meet the criteria for receiving unemployment benefits. – The unemployed are encouraged to actively look for new jobs, says Mykland. – Rammar the weakest Erlend Hansen in the Norwegian Seamen’s Association thinks Martinsen’s situation is sad. According to him, many fisheries organizations are critical of the change. – It is sad that the administration is not willing to take on board the feedback they receive from the industry in matters like this. In practice, this change has in several cases affected “the weakest of the weak”. Erlend Hansen is an inspector and advisor for fisheries at the Seamen’s Association. Photo: LO-media – Is this good security for Norwegian fishermen? – This is not good security for Norwegian fishermen. But what is also the biggest challenge here is that those affected by this regulatory change are not registered fishermen. He points out that many people do not understand the consequences of exactly that until it is too late. Among other things, because the regulations are so complex. – We recommend to everyone that as soon as they start employment within fisheries that are paid by lottery, they should apply to the Directorate of Fisheries for admission to Sheet B in the Fiskarmantalet. – Why can’t the association help him in this situation? – The decision on refusal of unemployment benefits is made with a basis in law and regulations. Even though the Norwegian Seamen’s Association many times would like us to make and decide which rules should apply, the reality is something else, says Hansen. In addition to this, the association has helped Martinsen with advice and guidance, which Martinsen says he appreciated. Looking around As a young learner, Martinsen was not aware that he should have joined the Fiskarmantalet, in order to potentially avoid the situation he is now in. Now he must face the consequences. – I am without justice in the welfare state of Norway, says Martin Tobias Martinsen (24). Photo: Vilde Bratland Erikstad / news – It’s really stupid that you can end up in this situation because you haven’t signed up for something you barely know what it is. Now the question is what he will do next. Hopefully he gets a job. Unfortunately for him, probably in a completely different profession than the one he trained for.
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Martin (24) has been unemployed for half a year – Nav can’t help – news Nordland
