Equality in Norway

1. Equality in Norway

2. Equality in Norway • Short historyintroductionof Norway. • Some «bits and pieces» from Norwegian laws • A little bit ofstatistics

3. Brief history lesson… • Norway wasgoverned by Denmark (the King ofDenmarkwasthe head ofbothcountries) for more than 400 yearsbut in 1814 was lost to Sweden in the Napoleon war. • A feweager Norwegians managed to seizetheopportunityoffreedom from Denmark and wrote a constitution in less thanonemonth (May 17, 1814)

4. …Brief history lesson… • Although Norway was still under thereignofSwedenuntil 1905 (from 1814-1905) this union waslooserthantheonewithDenmark and Norway wasable to decideontheirdomesticaffairs. Foreign affairsweredecided by Sweeden. • 1905 – the union withSwedenwasdissolved and Norway became an independentnationwithitsownConstitution. • Norway is only 109 yearsyoung

5. 200 years anniversary: 1814-2014

6. May 17, 2014: Norway celebratesthe 200th yearanniversaryofthe Norwegian constitution.

7. Equality in Norway • 1913: All women were given same rights to vote as men. • 2013: Norway celebrates 100 years of full equality between men and women.

8. Equality in Norway • Traditionally, womenhad a strongvoice in Norway…. • Lots of farmers and fishermen – thewomenhad to participate and make decisions. • No «royalty» and few «rich» people(traditionally). • 1900 – factoryworkers • After WWII to the 70’s most womenstayed at home. • Now, most womenwork and onlytakematernityleave and return to workafterwards.

9. Some significant parts from Norwegian laws…. • WorkingEnvironment Act • GenderEqualityAct • Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act

10. Working Environment Act • «If an employeesuffersreducedcapacity for work as a resultof an accident, sickness, fatigue or the like, theemployershall, as far as possible, implementthenecessarymeasures to enabletheemployee to retain or be given suitablework. • The employeeshallpreferably be given theopportunity to continue his normal work, possiblyafterspecialadaptationoftheworkworworkinghours.

11. Pregnancy/childbirth/bringing up children • A pregnant employee is entitled to leave of absence with pay in connection with prenatal examinations. • A pregnant employee is entitled to leave of absence for up to 12 weeks during pregnancy. • In connection with childbirth, the father is entitled to two weeks’ leave of absence in order to assist the mother.

12. Pregnancy/childbirth/bringing up children • Maternityleave: After giving birth, themotherthemother is entitled to leaveof absence for the first sixweeks. • Parental leave: Parentsareentitled to leaveof absence for a total of 12 months. Parental benefitsarepaid by the National Insurance. • Caring for a sickchild: All employeesareentitled to leaveof absence whennecessary to attend a sickchild, followthechild to medicalexamination or to staywiththechildifthedailychildcare is sick. • At ourschool:Timetablesareadjusted to teacherswithsmallchildren)

13. Daddyclub

14. GenderEqualityAct (Likestillingsloven) • Direct or indirectdifferentialtreatmentofwomen and men is not permitted. • Cannotplace a woman in a worsepositionthanwhatshehad due to pregnancy or childbirth. • Cannotplace a woman or man in a worsepositionthanwhattheyhad due to her or his rights to takeleaveof absence thatarereserved for a mother or father.

15. GenderEqualityAct (Likestillingsloven) • Equal pay for workofequalvalue… • Equal right to education… • Gender-basedharassment and sexualharassmentare not permitted… • («unwelcomeconductthat is related to a person’sgender and unwelcomesexualattentionthat is offensive to theobjectofsuchattention» )

16. Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act(diskriminering- og tilgjengelighetsloven) • Prohibits direct and indirect discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, family background, skin color, language, religion and belief.

17. Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act (2009) • Disabilityequality: • All peoplewithreduceddisability have the same rights as previouslymentioned in theEqualityAct. • Workplacesshall be organized so thatpeoplewithdisabilitiescanparticipate, • Public and private companiesshall be organized in such a waythatpeoplewithdisabilitiescanaccessthefacilities. «The ideal world – reality is quite different….

18. Some statistics….. • Norway: 5 096 000 inhabitants • Unemployment rate: 3,5% • 66% ofwomenareemployed • 70% of men areemployed • More than 40% ofwomenwork part-time (men 15%) • 7/10 people in thepublicsectorarewomen (2009)

19. Child care «for all»

20. Traditional choices already in high schools (number of females in various occupational training as well as general studies)

21. Equality for men • High divorce rate in Norway • Men have equal right to thechildren – thelawsays 50/50. • OftenchildrenstayoneweekwithMom and oneweekwithDad. • Othersolutions is alsopossible. • If parents live in different cities, Mom must alsopay for transport whenchildvisitstheotherparent. • Property is often sold and parentsmoveintosmallerplaces. If oneparentcanafford to keepthe original house, he/she must have independenteconomy to keepthe house.

22. Short summary… • Laws in Norway have strongregulations to ensurequalityamong all. • Reality is different; howeverthelawshelp to keep up a standard (a goal/vision?) • Traditionalchoicesare still made. • Some men call for genderdiscriminationtheotherwayaround – (sayingthey have to adjusttoomuch to women) • At last: A fewcuriosities….

23. Separate classes for men (elementary school education)

24. CEO/Managingdirector and Heartbreaker

25. Princess and «One Eyed Jack»

26. Thank you! Enjoyyourstay in Bergen!

27. Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven)