The case in summary: The Conservative Party believes that the state must take more responsibility for helping victims of wage theft, a problem that particularly affects foreign workers. Only one employer has been convicted of wage theft since the law against this was introduced two years ago. 90 percent of the cases are dropped. Today, it is up to employees who are not paid wages to try to collect this themselves. The Conservative Party proposes that the state should become the wage collector for victims of wage theft, which they believe can have a preventive effect. The Labor Party is open to taking a closer look at the proposal. Both young and older employees are exposed to wage theft in Norway. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – The state must step in, bang its fist on the table and get the wage demands collected, says Alexander Stokkebø, parliamentary representative for the Conservative Party. It has been two years since a law against wage theft was introduced. But since then only one employer has been convicted. 90 percent of the cases that are reported are dropped, shows a survey carried out by news. No one knows how many people are exposed to wage theft in Norway. The dark figures are large. Foreign workers in particular are at risk. It is also not easy to know what to do if you are not paid your salary. Last year, a legal aid initiative run by students helped 269 people with this. Voluntary organizations have long sounded the alarm about wage theft that goes under the radar. – It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that people get their pay, not student volunteering or trade unions, says Anne Marie Torbjørnsdal in Jussbuss. Asking for a change in the law Stokkebø in the Conservative Party believes it is time for the state to take greater responsibility for helping the vulnerable. It’s about giving people basic financial security, he believes. Conservative politician Alexander Stokkebø believes the state must help employers who are not paid wages. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news – We are concerned that those who experience a frivolous employer, who trains and holds back, should have the community on their side, says Stokkebø. As the system is today, employees who are not paid must try to collect this themselves. – Most people have neither the resources, time nor expertise to collect wages that are withheld by the employer, says Torbjørnsdal in Jussbuss. They also believe that it is high time that changes are made to the law. – The state should go to the employer and demand the money. Then the employee will get their salary paid more quickly. Political support Stokkebø believes that a change in the law can also have a preventive effect against wage theft. – The state is a tough opponent. From before, there is a bias in the power relationship between an employer who withholds wages and an employee. Having a large actor like the state, with big muscles, can act as a deterrent. Now the Conservative Party is putting forward the following proposal in the Storting: The state will become the wage collector for victims of wage theft. – Then we are talking about those requirements where documentation can be found or where it has been proven that there is a justified claim, says Stokkebø. – How should the state investigate this? – It must be based on the employee presenting his case, and an assessment must also be made as to whether the claim is justified. – Who in the state will be responsible for this? – This must be investigated thoroughly. But we have discussed, among other things, that the State’s collection center could be a possible variant. They have a good collection system. Here’s what you can do: If you believe you are exposed to wage theft, there are several things you as an employee can do to get the money back. This is how the scheme works today: First, you have to find out whether the employer is unable to pay, or whether the employer is unwilling to pay. If the employer is not willing to pay, even if he has the money to do so, it could be wage theft. The employee must send a letter, called a demand, to the employer. In the requirement, the employee must document to the best of their ability that they have worked. The documentation can be, for example, time sheets, employment agreements, bank statements or payslips. If the employer disagrees with the claim, the next step is usually the conciliation council. There will then be mediation in the conciliation council. If agreement is reached on the claim, a settlement can be entered into. If the mediation is not successful, the conciliation council can issue a judgment. The case can then go to the District Court. If a judgment is upheld or a settlement is reached, the employer is given a deadline to pay the money. If the deadline for payment is not met, the case will be sent to the bailiff. The bailiff has coercive powers. They can seize and sell the employer’s assets to collect the wages. Source: Jussbuss The proposal is interesting, says Odd Harald Hovland (Ap). He sits on the justice committee at the Storting and says the Labor Party will take a closer look at the regulations. – Some employees perform very poorly. Especially if they come from another country and do not have a good knowledge of Norwegian systems and Norwegian regulations. It can be very demanding for them to go through a process to get their money, says Hovland. Can affect everyone An employee is guaranteed salary from the state if the employer has gone bankrupt and is unable to pay. But this guarantee does not apply if the employer refuses to pay wages. Many do not know what to do if the employer does not do this, says Jussbuss. Anne Marie Torbjørnsdal works in the legal aid initiative Jussbuss. Photo: Jussbuss – If you also have bills and loans to service, the process becomes very taxing, says Torbjørnsdal. Both young and older employees are exposed to wage theft in Norway. Most people who contact the student union for help work in the service or construction industry. – It is the employee who bears the financial risk. Some employers take advantage of that.
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The Conservative Party asks the state to help victims of wage theft in Norway – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
