The Government has recently submitted a proposal to the Parliament on new measures in the combat against work-related crime.
The Government has proposed a number of new measures to prevent and counteract work-related crime. In the following, three of the proposed measures are described.
1. Penalizing wage theft etc.
The Government proposes to penalize wage theft. Wage theft is a fairly new concept. The term includes that the employer fails to pay wages or other remuneration to the employee, that the employer pays too little to the employee and that the employer demands repayment of wages already paid. The term also includes that the employer temporarily lays off employees, at the same time as the employer demands that the employees work for free during the temporary layoff period.
The Government proposes the introduction of new penal provisions for wage theft with an upper penalty of six years' imprisonment. In addition, the Government proposes that the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority be authorized to issue an order for the payment of a statutory minimum wage. The proposal includes penalties in the form of imprisonment or fines for employers who do not establish an occupational pension scheme. The proposal also includes the fact that the occupational pension scheme does not meet the minimum requirements in the Act on Mandatory Occupational Pensions.
2. No more pay in cash
Another proposal for measures against work-related crime is the introduction of a requirement that wages must, as a general rule, be paid into the employee's account via bank transfer. The requirement for bank transfer of salary shall contribute to reducing the extent of undeclared work and improving the financial conditions for employees.
3. Approval of certain businesses
The Government proposes that companies that carry out manual car washing, and tire change / tire hotels must be approved by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority in order to be able to conduct business. The background for the proposal is partly the need to limit rogue actors and partly the need to improve working conditions for employees in this industry.
The proposal for new measures against work crime will now be considered by the Parliament.
