Tariffavtale

Tariffavtale is a collective bargaining agreement between employers or employers’ associations and trade unions that represent employees. It regulates terms and conditions of employment for workers within a specific sector or company, and it can supplement or replace individual employment contracts. The agreement is typically written and covers areas such as wages, overtime pay, working hours, vacation, leave, pensions, health and safety, and rules for termination.

The scope of a tariffavtale can vary. Some agreements apply to a particular company, while others cover entire sectors or industries. In many cases the terms set by the tariffavtale establish minimum standards that employers must follow, with room for more favorable terms in individual contracts or company-specific arrangements. Wages and working conditions negotiated through tariffavtaler often reflect sectoral norms and productivity considerations.

Negotiation is conducted between national or sectoral trade unions and employers’ associations. In Norway, there is also a mechanism called allmenngjøring, whereby a tariffavtale can be extended by government decision to cover all employers in a sector, ensuring a level playing field for workers even where some employers are not unionized.

Tariffavtaler have a defined duration, commonly two to three years, after which they are renegotiated. They may include dispute resolution procedures and provisions for changes in case of extraordinary events. The existence of a tariffavtale typically strengthens employee protections and provides predictable terms for both workers and employers, contributing to industrial peace and social dialogue.