Working Environment Act

  1. Chapter 1. Introductory provisions

  2. Chapter 2. Duties of employer and employees

  3. Chapter 2 A. Whistleblowing

  4. Chapter 3. Working environment measures

  5. Chapter 4. Requirements regarding the working environment

  6. Chapter 5. Obligation to record and notify, requirements to manufacturers, etc.

  7. Chapter 6. Safety representatives

  8. Chapter 7. Working environment committees

  9. Chapter 8. Information and consultation

    (1) In corporate groups with undertakings that regularly employ at least 50 employees, the parent company shall establish frameworks for collaboration, information and discussion between the companies in the group and the employees in the group. The form of collaboration shall be established in consultation with a majority of the employees in the group, or one or more local trade unions representing a majority of the employees in the group. A collaborative body or other equivalent form of collaboration may be established.
    (2) If plans for expansions, reductions or changes could have a significant impact on employment in multiple undertakings in the group, notice of this must be given as early as possible and discussed with the collaborative body pursuant to the first paragraph.
    (3) The first paragraph, second and third sentence, and second paragraph can be derogated from in collective pay agreements.
    (4) For the purposes of this section, corporate group means a parent company and one or more subsidiaries. A company is a parent company if, by way of agreement or ownership, it has controlling influence over another company. A company shall always be deemed to have controlling influence if the company:
    1. a.
      owns so many shares or units in another company that they represent the majority of the votes that may be cast at the general meeting or equivalent body; or
    2. b.
      has the right to elect or dismiss more than half of the members of the other company’s board of directors.

    A company over which a parent company has such controlling influence is deemed a subsidiary. When calculating the voting rights and rights to elect or dismiss board members, the rights held by the parent company and subsidiaries of the parent company shall be included. The same applies to rights held by a party acting in their own name, but for the account of the parent company or a subsidiary. Municipalities, county municipalities, foundations and associations may be parent companies pursuant to this section.

  10. Chapter 9. Control measures in the undertaking

  11. Chapter 10. Working hours

    (1) No work shall be performed from 6.00 p.m. on the day preceding a Sunday or public holiday until 10.00 p.m. on the day preceding the next working day. On Christmas Eve, and the Saturdays preceding Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday no work shall be performed from 3.00 p.m. until 10.00 p.m. on the day preceding the next working day. Work performed during these periods shall be regarded as work on Sundays and public holidays.
    (2) Work on Sundays and public holidays is not permitted unless necessitated by the nature of the work.
    (3) Before imposing work on Sundays and public holidays, the employer shall discuss the need for such work with the employees' elected representatives.
    (4) In undertakings bound by a collective pay agreement, the employer and the employee's elected representatives may enter into a written agreement concerning work on Sundays and public holidays when there is an exceptional and time-limited need for it.
    (5) The employer and the employee may enter into a written agreement concerning work on Sundays and public holidays in cases other than those referred to in this section, allowing the employee corresponding time off on the days that are equivalent to Sundays and public holidays according to the employee's religion. Such an agreement may be entered into notwithstanding the provisions of section 10-8, fourth paragraph.

  12. Chapter 11. Employment of children and young persons

  13. Chapter 12. Entitlement to leave of absence

  14. Chapter 13. Protection against discrimination

  15. Chapter 14. Appointment, etc.

  16. Chapter 14 A. Agreements restricting competition in employment relationships

  17. Chapter 15. Termination of employment relationships

  18. Chapter 16. Rights of employees in the event of a transfer of ownership of undertakings

  19. Chapter 17. Disputes concerning working conditions

  20. Chapter 18. Regulatory supervision of the Act

  21. Chapter 19. Penal provisions

  22. Chapter 20. Final Provisions