Norway: Equal opportunities

Original author: Kjerstin Falkum Løvik, Arntzen de Besche

Updating author: Nina Thjømøe, Littler Norway

See the legal services provided by the updating author of International > Norway, including any discounts/offers for subscribers.

Summary

• Discrimination in employment is prohibited on various grounds. (See General)
• Differential treatment on the prohibited grounds is permitted in certain circumstances. (See Exemptions)
• There is a general statutory requirement that employees must not be subject to harassment, including sexual harassment, or other improper conduct. (See Harassment and sexual harassment)
• Employees are protected against victimisation. (See Victimisation)
• Positive action measures and differential treatment seeking to promote equal treatment on the prohibited grounds do not constitute unlawful discrimination. (See Positive action)
• Employers must make active, targeted and systematic efforts to promote gender equality within their organisations. (See Active equality efforts)
• Employees or job applicants who believe that they have been subject to unlawful discrimination by an employer on any of the prohibited grounds can bring a court case or make a complaint to the Norwegian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal. (See Remedies and penalties)