General application

General application of collective agreements means that parts of a collective agreement are made applicable to everyone performing work of the type covered by the agreement. This means it is illegal to pay anyone below the minimum wage rates and other generally applicable terms.

As of today there are general-applicability regulations in six of Fellesforbundet's sectors:

• Construction

• Shipbuilding and shipyard industry

• Agriculture and horticulture

• Road freight transport

• Passenger transport by coach

• Hotels, restaurants and catering

You can find information on the current rates and terms for the various sectors on the Labour Inspectorate's website.

The minimum wage rates in the general-applicability regulations follow the rates in the collective agreements they are based on. After the pay settlements, the rates are adjusted upward.

The Labour Inspectorate shall ensure that employers comply with the general-applicability regulations on minimum wages. In case of violations, the Labour Inspectorate can issue orders to the businesses, enforcement fines, halt work, or report the matter to the police.

If you become a member of Fellesforbundet can you get help to claim the minimum wage you are entitled to. If several organize themselves, you can demand an ordinary collective agreement in the workplace. The collective agreements give workers far more supplements and rights than the general-applicability regulations, which include, among other things:

• Higher wages for many workers

• Pay supplements for evening, weekends and night work

• Higher overtime compensation

• Additional vacation and holiday pay

• Contractual early retirement pension (AFP)

• Two weeks paid paternity leave in connection with birth