lønnsfestet

Lønnsfestet is a Norwegian term that denotes a policy or practice in which wages are fixed at a predetermined level rather than determined solely by market negotiations. The word combines lønn, meaning wage, and festet, meaning fixed or established. In Norwegian labor and economic policy discussions, lønnsfestet is used to describe wage arrangements characterized by a freeze or cap on wage growth for a defined period, often implemented through collective agreements between employers and unions or through government measures as part of macroeconomic stabilization.

Lønnsfestet can take different forms: (1) a general wage freeze across sectors for a set time; (2) a fixed or capped wage growth rate tied to targets such as productivity or inflation; or (3) sector- or job-specific fixed pay scales within a collective agreement. In practice, such arrangements aim to restrain wage-driven inflation, preserve competitiveness, or support employment during downturns. They are typically intended as compromise measures balancing the interests of workers and employers, though they can affect real purchasing power and wage progression.

Critics argue that lønnsfestet reduces individuals' ability to capture productivity gains and may distort labor incentives, while proponents argue that it provides macroeconomic stability and social peace. The concept is mainly discussed in national labor-market literature and Nordic policy contexts, distinct from statutory minimum wages or automatic wage-indexing. See also wage freeze, collective bargaining, inflation targeting.