Social dumping

The term social dumping refers to the practice of offering workers, and particularly migrant workers, significantly poorer pay and employment conditions than those provided to Norwegian workers.

Regulations regarding health, safety and the working environment apply to everyone working in Norway, and the Working Environment Act also applies to foreign employees. In some sectors, wage and working conditions are regulated through the Tariff Board and made applicable to all. This ensures that everyone employed in the sector is entitled to these conditions.

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority and the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority play a central role in combating social dumping. They ensure that health, safety, and environmental (HSE) requirements are followed, and that the conditions for work permits under the Immigration Act are met. They also ensure that employees receive wages and have working conditions according to the general application of collective agreements.

The Labour Inspection Authority has more in-depth information about the regulation of working conditions in Norway.

Work-related crime

Financial gain is a primary driver behind social dumping and work-related crime. There is a strong correlation between social dumping, work-related crime and other forms of economic crime, including money laundering, fraud, bankruptcy-related crime, tax evasion, fraudulent accounting and securities crime.

The term work-related crime refers to various forms of profit-motivated crime within working life. Such offences occur at the expense of employees’ conditions of employment and rights, while also undermines the tax base and the welfare system. Unscrupulous and criminal actors who exploit tax rules and benefits schemes for their own enrichment contribute to the undermining of trust in Norwegian authorities and the welfare system.

Although there is no legal definition of work-related crime, it is generally understood as a collective term for acts that violate Norwegian laws on pay and employment conditions, benefits and taxes, often in an organised form, that exploit workers or distort competition and undermine the social structure.

A coordinated effort from several public authorities is required to prevent and combat workplace crime and social dumping. An inter-agency collaboration has been established, involving the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, the Norwegian Tax Administration and the police.

The government has introduced action plans to combat social dumping and work-related crime. The latest action plan was introduced in 2025.

Tripartite industry cooperation in vulnerable sectors

Preventing social dumping and combatting work-related crime requires cooperation between the authorities, trade unions and employer organisations. This tripartite cooperation takes place across multiple arenas and utilises a range of policy instruments. Tripartite industry programmes have been established in collaboration between the authorities and the social partners involved to ensure decent and proper working conditions in vulnerable sectors. These programmes exist in the cleaning services, the transport industry, the hospitality service industry, the automobile industry and the agriculture sector.  The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority facilitates the activity on behalf of the authorities.