Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Norway (RATIFICATION: 1987)

CMNT_TITLE

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee once again notes that the Government continues to supply statistics on the economically active population, employment and unemployment to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website (ILOSTAT). The latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) figures provided relate to 2020. The Government reports that, in compliance with EU Parliament and Council Framework Regulation No. 2019/1700 and EU Commission Implementing Regulation No. 2019/2240, the LFS covers employment among persons 15–89 years of age and unemployment among persons 15–74 years of age. Moreover, underemployment is captured and measured according to EU standards. The Government indicates that it is planning the 2021 population and housing census. It adds that Norway has now developed a completely register-based Population and Housing Census statistical system, in which all census-related statistics are disseminated annually nationwide. In addition, the Committee acknowledges the information provided in the Government’s report with respect to the implementation of Resolution I of the 19th ICLS concerning "Statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization" (2013). The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply updated data and information on the methodology used in the application of these provisions, as well as information on the methodology and results of the planned 2021 population and housing census. It further requests that the Government continue to provide information on any developments in relation to the application of Resolution I of the 19th ICLS concerning "Statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization"(2013).

Articles 9, 10 and 11. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. Statistics of labour cost. The Committee notes that the following statistics were provided to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination: average weekly hours actually worked, derived from the LFS and disaggregated by economic activity and sex, and average monthly earnings of employees, by branch of economic activity and sex, derived from the Establishment Survey. For both series, the most recent figures refer to 2020. With respect to statistics of wage structure and distribution, the Committee understands that these statistics continue to be compiled following EU guidelines on the Structure of Earnings Survey. The latest data available is from 2018. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that it continues to regularly report data on labour costs to the ILO Department of Statistics. The Committee notes that the latest data available in ILOSTAT is from 2020. The concepts, definitions and methodology used in the labour cost survey follow EU guidelines and are in accordance with the ILO framework.   The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply updated information on the application of these provisions, including information relating to both data and methodology.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries. The Government indicates in its report that the coverage of national statistics in this area remains unchanged. Statistics Norway also collects data every three years on occupational injuries and perceived health problems caused by work through the Survey on living conditions and working environment every three years. The Survey covers a representative sample of the working population aged 18–66 years old, who are Norwegian residents. These statistics are used by national authorities such as The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, as background for their inspections. Statistics Norway publishes these data as national statistics but does not report the data to Eurostat or other international bodies. The latest data available under ILOSTAT is from 2019. With respect to occupational diseases, Statistics Norway is collaborating with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, to assess the possibility of establishing official statistics that comply with EUROSTAT methodology. The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply statistics on occupational injuries and new source compilations, as and when they become available.

CMNT_TITLE

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that the Government continues to supply statistics on the economically active population, employment and unemployment to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website (ILOSTAT) and that the latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) figures relate to 2014. The Committee also notes that Statistics Norway carried out a population census in 2011. Information on the census and the census results is available through Eurostat and Statistics Norway. The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply data and information on the methodology used in the application of these provisions as well as on any plans for conducting the next round of the population census. It also invites the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Articles 9, 10 and 11. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. Statistics of labour cost. The Committee notes that the following statistics were provided to the ILO Department of Statistics: average weekly hours actually worked, by economic activity and by sex, derived from the LFS; and average monthly earnings of employees, by branch of economic activity and by sex, derived from the Establishment Survey. For both series, the most recent figures refer to 2014. With respect to statistics of wage structure and distribution, the Committee notes that these statistics are compiled following the guidelines of the European Union concerning the Structure of Earnings Survey. Moreover, the Committee notes that information available on the Statistics Norway website indicate that the latest available statistics on annual average labour costs per full-time-equivalent employee by industry, derived from the Labour Cost Survey conducted once every four years, refer to 2012. The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply up-to-date statistics on the application of these provisions.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries. The Government indicates in its report that Statistics Norway has started to compile national statistics for occupational injuries based on reports to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). It adds that Statistics Norway will report data for 2014 to Eurostat in 2016. The Government further indicates that the statistics are based on reports (claim forms) submitted to the NAV. A distinction is made between occupational injuries that lead to short absence from work (three days or less) and injuries that lead to long absences from work (over three days and permanent absence, for example, in the case of fatal injuries). The Committee further notes that submitting a claim to the NAV is only relevant if the injured person is covered by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Self-employed persons can voluntarily join the NIS but a relatively large share chooses not to do so. The Government indicates that national statistics will be released together with a methodological description about the statistics. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply statistics on occupational injuries and new source compilations, when they become available. Please also provide information on any developments with regard to the production of occupational injuries statistics.

CMNT_TITLE

Article 9(2) of the Convention. Compilation of statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. Taking note of the information provided by the Government, the Committee draws its attention to Resolution I[2] concerning the measurement of working time adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statistics in November–December 2008, which defines new concepts and measures in this area of statistics.

Article 14. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the publications that include statistics on occupational injuries. It notes however that no information is provided on publications containing a methodological description of the statistics. The Committee once again requests the Government to supply information on the measures envisaged to compile data on the number of injuries resulting in lost workdays as well as the number of workdays lost due to temporary incapacity, and to supply information on publications, if any, containing a methodological description of the statistics used (Article 6).

CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the partial responses to its previous comments. It would be grateful if the Government would supply the supplementary information on the application of Article 14 already requested in the following terms.

Article 14 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the measures envisaged to compile data on the number of injuries resulting in lost workdays as well as the number of workdays lost due to temporary incapacity, and to supply information on publications, if any, containing a methodological description of the statistics used (Article 6).

CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the Government’s report, and in particular the information concerning the application of Article 11 of the Convention. It asks the Government to provide further information on the following points.

 Articles 9 and 10 of the Convention.  The Committee notes with interest that since 1997 new wage structure statistics have been compiled and published annually. These statistics cover all important categories of employees and all important branches of economic activity. The new system provides for the compilation of statistics of average earnings and contractual hours of work as well as the structure and distribution of earnings and hours of work, and, where appropriate, wage rates and normal hours of work. Future plans include the incorporation of additional branches of economic activity still covered by administrative and other sources. The Committee asks the Government to communicate to the ILO the results of the annual wage structure statistics and, as soon as practicable, detailed information on the methodology applied to compile these statistics (in accordance with Articles 5 and 6).

Article 14.  The Committee notes that detailed methodological information was provided to the ILO as the basis for a description published in Sources and methods: Labour statistics, Volume 8 - Occupational injuries (ILO, Geneva, 1999) (in accordance with Article 6), and that, according to this information, the international standards were taken into account (Article 2) and the representative organizations of workers and employers were consulted (Article 3). It notes that separate data are not at present compiled on cases of injury with lost workdays, and that the figures of workdays lost available in connection with some cases of injury are considered not to be reliable by the Director of Labour Inspectorates. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on any measures contemplated to compile data on the number of cases of injury with lost workdays, and the corresponding number of workdays lost by cases of temporary incapacity, and to provide information regarding the publication, if any, in which a methodological description regarding the statistics appears (Article 6).

CMNT_TITLE

With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning in particular Article 12 (read together with Article 3) of the Convention.

Articles 9 to 11. The Committee notes that there has been no change in the compilation of statistics covered by these Articles, and that no plans have been made to overcome the inconsistency between statistics of earnings and statistics of hours of work derived from two separate sources (Article 9). However, it notes that statistics on the composition of earnings (wage structure) are available from various sources (Article 10), and that statistics on the composition of hours of work, as a percentage of total hours worked, are available for certain specific categories of employees. The Committee further notes that statistics on wage distribution (the distribution of employees according to various levels of earnings and hours of work) do not seem to be available, and requests the Government to state whether measures are taken or envisaged to give effect to Article 10 in this regard. The Committee also asks the Government to communicate to the ILO (in accordance with Article 6) detailed information on the revision of the statistical system of earnings (and possibly of hours of work), announced in the Central Bureau of Statistics' publication No. 36/93 of "Ukens Statistikk".

Article 14. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether data are available for (i) the number of persons injured with resulting work time lost and (ii) work days lost by all persons injured, or if not, whether it is intended to collect this information, and the progress made in this direction. In the absence of sufficient information, the Committee again asks the Government to provide (i) information on the standards and guidelines followed with respect to statistics of occupational injuries and diseases (in accordance with Article 2) and (ii) a methodological description regarding these statistics (in accordance with Article 6).

CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government with its second report in reply to the Committee's previous comments, concerning in particular Articles 9 and 13 of the Convention.

Article 2. The Committee notes the Government's indication of no changes and recalls that no information has yet been supplied concerning the standards and guidelines established under the auspices of the ILO (for example, resolutions adopted by the International Conference of Labour Statisticians) that have been taken into consideration in designing or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used concerning the statistics covered by Articles 14 and 15. It therefore requests the Government to supply information in this regard.

Article 6. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning the methodological description of the statistics covered by Articles 10 and 12. It requests the Government to supply similar information regarding Articles 14 and 15 and also to provide the reference information on its publication.

Article 8. The Committee notes that a population census took place in 1990 and that, according to the available methodological information, it would seem that unemployed persons will be included in the final census data. It would be grateful to the Government for confirming their inclusion.

Article 9. The Committee notes that the statistics of hours actually worked in mining, quarrying and manufacturing have been discontinued and that statistics of hours of work compiled through the Labour Force Survey are not consistent and cannot be used in conjuction with earnings statistics derived from other sources. It requests the Government to indicate any plan to overcome this inconsistency.

Article 10. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether statistics are available showing the distribution of employees according to levels of earnings and hours of work, classified by important characteristics of employees, such as sex and age group, and if not, whether it is envisaged to compile them in the future.

Article 12. The Committee notes the information supplied with the Government's report on consumer price index, and requests the Government to indicate whether the advisory committee mentioned in the first report continues to deal with the consumer price index so as to give effect to Article 3 (consultation).

Article 14. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments and further requests the Government to indicate whether statistical data concerning the number of workdays lost by persons injured is available.

CMNT_TITLE

The Committee has taken note of the Government's first report and asks it to supply additional information on the following points:

Article 2 of the Convention. Please specify in respect of Articles 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15 of the Convention the standards and guide-lines established under the auspices of the ILO that have been taken into consideration in designing the statistics to which these Articles refer. Please also give reasons for all departures from these standards and guide-lines (such as, for example, for the establishment of the statistics referred to in Article 13 of the Convention, which the Government mentions in its report).

Article 6. Please indicate whether descriptions of the sources, concepts, definitions and methodology used in collecting and compiling statistics referred to in Articles 10, 12, 14 and 15 of the Convention have been published by the Central Office of Statistics, or by another competent body, and if so, please communicate a copy of this publication.

Article 9, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that, according to the report, statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work covering important occupations or groups of occupations, have not been compiled and that no request has been formulated to this end. Please state the reasons why it has not been considered necessary to compile such statistics.

Article 13. Please indicate whether the statistics on household (or family) expenditure and income which, according to the report, are established in accordance with the Norwegian system of national accounts, can be used conjointly.

Article 14. Please indicate whether statistics of occupational injuries are representative of the country as a whole, and whether they cover all branches of economic activity. Please also indicate the name and type of source of these statistics, as requested under Article 5(a) of the Convention.