The Søndre Østfold District Court ruled that the part-time employee was entitled to overtime pay for extra work, finding the practice in violation of the EU Part-Time Work Directive. According to Statistics Norway, over 27 percent of Norway's wage earners work part-time. The authorities have set up a committee to clarify Norwegian regulations by the end of 2026.
The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) warned in a press release that the ruling illustrates problematic consequences if it becomes established practice. ' In contrast, Christopher Beckham, union leader of Handel og Kontor Norge, called the ruling a historic victory for part-time employees. He criticized NHO's recommendation, saying, 'It doesn't work.
As long as the workers' side continues to pursue lawsuits with extensive compensation claims, NHO sees itself forced to advise our companies against using part-time employees for extra shifts or overtime, says Nina Melsom, director of working life and tariffs at NHO.
Part-time employees have the right to vacant positions and overtime. ' LO lawyer Lornts Nagelhus argued that overtime must apply from the first hour beyond the agreed employment percentage, referring to recent EU rulings that establish it as illegal discrimination to require part-time employees to work a full-time week before overtime supplements kick in. The core of the conflict involves the distinction between extra work, which only pays regular hourly rates up to a full work week, and overtime, which requires supplements after exceeding standard hours.
NHO emphasized that the case is about more than just law; it is about what kind of working life Norway will have in the future.
A worker can thus decline an offer of a full-time position, and then ask to work extra shifts that require overtime pay. This can have very unfortunate effects for Norwegian working life, says Melsom.