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

  10. Chapter 9. Control measures in the undertaking

  11. Chapter 10. Working hours

  12. Chapter 11. Employment of children and young persons

  13. Chapter 12. Entitlement to leave of absence

    After giving birth, the mother shall have a leave of absence for the first six weeks unless she produces a medical certificate stating that she should resume work.

  14. Chapter 13. Protection against discrimination

  15. Chapter 14. Appointment, etc.

    (1) An employee shall be appointed permanently. For the purposes of this Act, a permanent appointment shall mean that the appointment is continuous and not time-limited, that the provisions of the Act concerning termination of employment shall apply and that the employee is ensured predictability of employment in the form of a clearly specified amount of paid working hours.
    (2) Temporary appointment may nevertheless be agreed upon
    1. a.
      when the work is of a temporary nature
    2. b.
      for work as a temporary replacement for another person or persons
    3. c.
      for work as a trainee
    4. d.
      with participants in labour market schemes under the auspices of or in cooperation with the Labour and Welfare Service
    5. e.
      with athletes, trainers, referees and other leaders within organised sports
    (3) The Ministry may by regulation issue further provisions concerning temporary appointment for trainee work and concerning what types of labour market schemes are subject to the second paragraph (d).
    (4) National unions may enter into collective pay agreements with an employer or employers' association concerning the right to make temporary appointments within a specific group of workers employed to perform artistic work, research work or work in connection with sport. If the collective pay agreement is binding for a majority of the employees within a specified group of employees in the undertaking, the employer may on the same conditions enter into temporary contracts of employment with other employees who are to perform corresponding work.
    (5) An employee who has been employed for more than one year is entitled to written notification of the date on which he is to leave his post, no later than one month before that date. This shall nevertheless not apply to persons participating in labour market schemes subject to the third paragraph, cf. the second paragraph (d). Such notification shall be deemed to have been given when it is received by the employee. If the time limit is not observed, the employer may not require the employee to leave his post until one month after notification has been given.
    (6) Unless otherwise agreed in writing or laid down in a collective pay agreement, temporary contracts of employment shall expire at the end of the agreed period or when the specific work is completed. During the agreement period, the provisions of this Act concerning termination of employment shall apply.
    (7) Employees who have been temporarily employed for more than three consecutive years pursuant to the second paragraph (a), (b), former (f) or any of these in combination, shall be deemed to be permanently employed so that the provisions concerning termination of employment relationships shall apply. When calculating the length of employment, deductions shall not be made for the employee's absence.

  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