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WORKING IN NORWAY

Norway to tighten staffing and temp agency laws from April

A controversial amendment to the working law in Norway will make it harder for companies to hire labour from agencies and staffing firms to try and create more full-time positions.

Pictured is a worker cutting wood.
The government will tighten rules on temp agencies from April 1st. Pictured is a construction worker cutting wood. Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash

The new law will come into effect from April 1st, which will see a ban on staff in the construction industry in Oslo and Viken being outsourced by recruitment firms.

Additionally, the new rules find that those who have worked with the same business for more than three years will have the right to a permanent direct job with the employer they are sourced to.

Furthermore, the right for firms to hire from staffing companies when the work is of a temporary nature will be revoked.

Since forming in 2021, the government has prioritised increasing the number of permanent positions in Norway. It and LO, Norway’s largest trade union umbrella, say the practice reduces permanent employment and erodes the rights of workers and the responsibilities of companies.

Up to two percent of the workforce in Norway is employed by a staffing agency. In certain industries, such as construction, the proportion of those employed by agencies is around eight percent.

Companies which rely on the temporary hiring of labour to meet their needs have reacted strongly to the law change, while permanent employees at staffing agencies also risk losing their jobs.

Two staffing firms, one Lithuanian and one Norwegian, have complained to the ESA, which is the EFTA’s monitoring body and ensures that EEA law is complied with, the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reports.

They argue that the new law goes against EEA regulations on temporary workers. The ESA has contacted Norway’s Labour Minister and asked for documentation and for the ministry to answer a number of questions.

The ministry will be asked to explain or prove why Norway’s labour market is not working correctly and that permanent employment will increase as a result of the law change. Furthermore, it will be required to prove health and safety will improve and highlight that staffing firms have a negative consequence in Norway.

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TAXES

Who will be affected by Norway’s new exit tax and how will it work?

Norway's government is moving forward with plans to enact stricter tax regulations for people leaving the country. The Local contacted the Ministry of Finance to find out the details.

Who will be affected by Norway's new exit tax and how will it work?

A new exit tax is in the works, the Norwegian government announced recently. 

READ MORE: What we know so far about Norway’s plans for an exit tax

The proposed changes aim to close loopholes within the existing tax system, particularly concerning the taxation of gains made on shares while residing in Norway and moving assets abroad.

Under the proposed regulations, those who have left Norway after March 20th, 2024, would be subject to taxes on gains of more than 500,000 kroner that they have accrued while in Norway. 

This move comes as part of the government’s efforts to address a recent outflow of wealth from the country, with Switzerland being a popular destination for tax exiles from Norway.

READ MORE: Why Norway has continued to see an exodus of wealthy residents

Who would be affected – and how would it work?

The new tax would affect both foreigners and locals – as long as they’re tax resident in the country, State Secretary Erlend Grimstad at the Ministry of Finance told The Local.

“The Norwegian exit tax rules, both the current ones and the ones being proposed, would affect natural persons who are tax residents in Norway,” he said.

The tax settlement process upon departure from Norway would require people to address their tax obligations related to gains exceeding 500,000 kroner on shares acquired during their time in Norway.

Emigrants would have several options for fulfilling this tax obligation, including immediate payment, interest-free instalments spread over 12 years, or deferred payment with accrued interest.

“Exit tax on shares will be imposed on individuals who terminate their tax residence in Norway, either according to Norwegian tax law or the applicable tax treaty.

“The rules also apply when an owner resident in Norway transfers shares as a gift to a person resident outside Norway,” Grimstad said, further noting that the new rules would only apply if the deemed net gain at the time of departure or transfer exceeded 500,000 kroner.

When could the new rules enter into force?

The consultation period for the new exit tax proposal began on March 20th and will last until May 21st, 2024. Thus, stakeholders and the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback and insights for the next two months.

Following this period, the proposal will undergo review and potential adoption by the Norwegian parliament (Storting), with the government needing majority support for implementation.

READ MORE: Does Norway really have some of the highest taxes in the world?

However, if the rules are passed, they will apply from March 20th, 2024, Grimstad told The Local.

“This is necessary to counteract tax adaptations in the time between publication of the proposal and adoption of the changes in the Storting,” he said.

The reasoning behind the new exit tax

Commenting on the exit tax developments last week, Norwegian Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum said that it was important to uphold the principle of fairness in the taxation process, noting that people should contribute taxes on assets accumulated in Norway.

However, the proposed regulations also include provisions for those intending to return to Norway within the 12-year timeframe, ensuring that their tax liability would be adjusted accordingly.

“When you relocate, it’s only fair that you contribute taxes on what you’ve earned or gained in Norway. However, this process must be reasonable, hence the 12-year rule. Some people may wish to reside abroad temporarily and eventually return home,” Vedum said at the time, according to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).

The proposed exit tax would extend beyond shares to include gains from share savings accounts and fund accounts. Additionally, transfers of shares with subsequent gains to people residing abroad, such as relatives, would trigger the tax if gains exceed 100,000 kroner, a reduction from the previous threshold of 500,000 kroner.

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