Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2000, publiée 89ème session CIT (2001)

1.  The Committee welcomes official recognition by the authorities that Norway is in the process of becoming a multicultural society and that it should make the most of this diversity. It notes in particular the statement made on 28 February 1997 by the Minister of Local Government and Labour in presenting to the Parliament his report entitled "Immigration and a Multi-Cultural Norway" (St. meld No. 17, 1996-97) that "if our society is to benefit from the resources and experience immigrants have, it is important that they are allowed to participate in Norwegian society under the same terms and with the same obligations as the rest of the population".

2.  The Committee notes with interest the numerous initiatives taken by the Government to combat racism and discrimination in general and in the field of employment and occupation in particular. First, on the legislative side, it notes that section 55A of the Act of 4 February 1977 on the protection of workers and conditions of employment was amended in 1998 to formally prohibit any discrimination based on race, colour, ethnic or national origin or sexual orientation in recruitment procedures. At a more practical level, it notes the adoption of a Plan of Action to Combat Racism and Discrimination for the period 1998-2001 which sets out the measures that should be adopted in the following fields: (a) legal assistance to persons who are victims of discrimination and measures to improve monitoring of the type and extent of racial discrimination; (b) measures taken by the police to deal with discrimination, especially in access to public places; (c) measures to prevent discrimination in the labour markets and to promote equal opportunities; (d) measures in the housing market to ensure equal opportunities for all; (e) measures in primary and secondary schools to prevent racism and discrimination; (f) measures to increase multicultural understanding in key service sectors by improving the education of personnel; and (g) measures in local arenas to support activities against racism.

3.  The Committee notes that the Government has also presented a Plan of Action (1998-2001) for recruiting persons with an immigrant background to the state sector which contains measures to reduce structural obstacles to the employment of these persons and other measures focused on the attitude of the employment authorities.

4.  In parallel with these activities, the Government has established new bodies such as: (a) the Centre for Combating Ethnic Discrimination (1998), an independent governmental body that will provide professional legal assistance to individuals who are victims of discrimination on grounds of religion or belief, race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, which is also responsible for monitoring the nature and extent of racial discrimination in Norway; (b) a new Department of Indigenous, Minority and Immigrant Affairs, set up in 1999 in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, by which efforts to combat racism and discrimination will be better coordinated and given a wider perspective; and (c) a committee, in 1999, to draft a new act on combating ethnic discrimination.

5.  The Committee notes, however, that although the labour market in Norway has generally been favourable for jobseekers in the past few years, immigrants still experience problems: in May 1999 the unemployment rate was 6.3 per cent for immigrants compared with 2.2 per cent for the population as a whole and stood at 12.6 per cent for immigrants from Africa. The Government considers that the main obstacles for immigrants in the labour market seem to be lack of proficiency in the Norwegian language, insufficient or unrecognized qualifications, discrimination and lack of work experience in Norway. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the measures taken, particularly in the Norwegian Labour Market Service (Aetat), to assist migrant workers to overcome these obstacles and would be grateful if the Government would supply further information on results obtained in this respect.