Labor Law

Introduction

Labour law is concerned with the legal rules that apply to the various players in the labour market. The regulation of the labour market has become increasingly complex and international, and the responsibilities and obligations imposed on employers by legislation are extensive. This requires expertise in labour law in both private and public enterprises.
Most conflicts in the labour market at the individual level are due to inadequate routines for how such conflicts can be avoided in the first place, and for how conflicts should be handled and resolved. This can often result in the scope of the conflict increasing and becoming more complicated. To a large extent, the problem is a lack of knowledge among employers about the basic rules of labour law, and this can lead to major financial and human burdens for the parties.

The course will provide solid knowledge of the legal regulation of individual employment relationships and the relationship between the parties in the labour market. The course provides a basic insight into working environment legislation and collective bargaining law based on key issues of importance to the exercise of employer functions. The student will thus gain an overview of both individual and collective labour law and with it knowledge of significant legal and institutional aspects of the Norwegian working life model.

Particular emphasis is placed on the legal regulations that are relevant to the implementation of restructuring and downsizing in organisations. The employer's right of control, rules on dismissal and business transfer are therefore key topics. Furthermore, the course focuses in particular on the legal regulation of employment, hiring, termination of the employment relationship due to the employee's circumstances (termination, dismissal, etc.) and the legal effects of the collective agreement.

Understanding the connection between the regulations, the employer's right of control and the practical organisation of processes of importance to employment law is central to the course. The student will learn to identify and handle labour law issues that may arise in businesses.

Course content

• The background to labour law, sources, basic concepts (employee concept, employer concept, business concept), management rights, duty of loyalty, advertising, recruitment and employment
• Different forms of employment (permanent, temporary), hiring of labour, the boundary between hiring and contracting
• Salary, holiday and holiday pay, sick leave, leave of absence
• Discrimination rules
• The general rules on dismissal, special protection against dismissal for certain groups and in certain situations, dismissal during the probationary period, suspension, dismissal and procedural rules
• Collective agreements and their significance, entering into a collective agreement, the legal effects of the agreement, rules on strikes, lockouts, etc.