Hovedavtalen

Hovedavtalen, or the Main Agreement, is the central framework for employer–employee relations in Norway, negotiated between the national employers’ association and the labor unions, primarily LO (Landsorganisasjonen i Norge) and NHO (Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon). It provides the general rules and principles for cooperation, information sharing, and dispute handling that shape how industrial relations operate beyond sector-specific collective agreements.

The agreement establishes core principles such as negotiating in good faith, informing and consulting employee representatives about important organizational decisions, and involving unions in decisions affecting wages, working conditions, and business strategy. It creates mechanisms for cooperation and conflict resolution, aiming to reduce industrial conflict by encouraging dialogue, mediation, and, where appropriate, arbitration before resorting to strikes or lockouts. A traditional feature associated with the Hovedavtalen is the notion of a “fredsplikt” (peace obligation) during certain stages of negotiations, though the exact scope has evolved with revisions and sector practice.

Content and scope have varied through revisions since the first version, traditionally dating from the 1930s, reflecting changes in Norwegian industrial relations, including increased emphasis on information rights, consultation procedures, and the formal role of shop stewards and union representatives. While sector-specific tariff agreements and the Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven) shape many day-to-day practices, the Hovedavtalen remains a foundational reference for the framework within which those agreements and practices operate.

Today, the Hovedavtalen continues to function as a baseline for how employers and employee organizations interact, balancing management prerogatives with employee participation and protections for information, consultation, and collective bargaining processes.

See also: LO, NHO, tariff agreements, Arbeidsmiljøloven.