UPDATE: What changes about life in Norway in March
Norway’s biggest counties being dissolved and loans and mortgages becoming more expensive are among the changes you need to know about in March.
Deadlines for counties to apply to be dissolved
March 1st marks the deadline for local authorities to apply to the government to dissolve their counties.
Several counties have already decided to disband into smaller, historic counties.
Viken County, Norway’s largest, and Vestfold og Telemark are two counties that will be applying to the government to be broken up. Troms og Finnmark has also voted to split up.
Innlandet, however, has voted against dissolving. The counties were only merged a few years ago. The government hopes that by dissolving counties, services for people in these areas can be decentralised.
The government will be covering the cost of dissolving the counties.
Spring wage negotiations
In March, the wage settlement negotiations will begin between various employer organisations and unions.
Fellesforbundet, the largest private-sector union, will present its demands on March 9th.
Unions this year are saying they will be asking for strong wage growth in the face of rising inflation and cost of living costs.
READ ALSO: What foreign residents in Norway should know about workers’ unions
Employer organisations have said the exact costs impacting workers spending powers are also hitting businesses hard.
If agreements cannot be reached between the two, then it could lead to workers being taken out on strike.
Fines for being caught using your mobile while driving go up
The cost of a fine for being caught using your mobile has been increased from 5,000 kroner to 7,450 kroner and three points on your licence.
The penalty rate for being caught on your phone has now been increased for the second time in just over a year. At the beginning of 2021, the fine was increased from 1,700 to 5,000 kroner plus three points.
If you accumulate more than eight points in three years, your licence will be taken away for six months.
World Cup and World Championships come to Norway
No, not that world cup. However, for many Norwegians, this will be the world cup they will be following the closest this year.
Norway will host downhill and super-g events at Kvitfjell and the Ski Jumping World Championships at Vikersund.
Norwegian crowds should be in festive spirits, given the country’s dominant displays at the recent winter Olympics.
Interest rates will be raised
Norway’s central bank, Norges Bank, will likely raise the key interest rate in March. The rate will be increased to around 0.75 percent.
The bank will be aiming to raise rates to 1.75 percent by 2024, following record lows of 0 percent due to the pandemic.
Banks will likely increase their rates on the back of the announcement, making loans and mortgages more expensive to repay.
Higher education deadlines
There are several deadlines those looking to study in Norway should be aware of in March.
Applications for the Norwegian Police Academy and aviation at the Norwegian Arctic University close on March 1st. March 15th will make the deadline for student loans and scholarships for those beginning education in the spring semester.
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Deadlines for counties to apply to be dissolved
March 1st marks the deadline for local authorities to apply to the government to dissolve their counties.
Several counties have already decided to disband into smaller, historic counties.
Viken County, Norway’s largest, and Vestfold og Telemark are two counties that will be applying to the government to be broken up. Troms og Finnmark has also voted to split up.
Innlandet, however, has voted against dissolving. The counties were only merged a few years ago. The government hopes that by dissolving counties, services for people in these areas can be decentralised.
The government will be covering the cost of dissolving the counties.
Spring wage negotiations
In March, the wage settlement negotiations will begin between various employer organisations and unions.
Fellesforbundet, the largest private-sector union, will present its demands on March 9th.
Unions this year are saying they will be asking for strong wage growth in the face of rising inflation and cost of living costs.
READ ALSO: What foreign residents in Norway should know about workers’ unions
Employer organisations have said the exact costs impacting workers spending powers are also hitting businesses hard.
If agreements cannot be reached between the two, then it could lead to workers being taken out on strike.
Fines for being caught using your mobile while driving go up
The cost of a fine for being caught using your mobile has been increased from 5,000 kroner to 7,450 kroner and three points on your licence.
The penalty rate for being caught on your phone has now been increased for the second time in just over a year. At the beginning of 2021, the fine was increased from 1,700 to 5,000 kroner plus three points.
If you accumulate more than eight points in three years, your licence will be taken away for six months.
World Cup and World Championships come to Norway
No, not that world cup. However, for many Norwegians, this will be the world cup they will be following the closest this year.
Norway will host downhill and super-g events at Kvitfjell and the Ski Jumping World Championships at Vikersund.
Norwegian crowds should be in festive spirits, given the country’s dominant displays at the recent winter Olympics.
Interest rates will be raised
Norway’s central bank, Norges Bank, will likely raise the key interest rate in March. The rate will be increased to around 0.75 percent.
The bank will be aiming to raise rates to 1.75 percent by 2024, following record lows of 0 percent due to the pandemic.
Banks will likely increase their rates on the back of the announcement, making loans and mortgages more expensive to repay.
Higher education deadlines
There are several deadlines those looking to study in Norway should be aware of in March.
Applications for the Norwegian Police Academy and aviation at the Norwegian Arctic University close on March 1st. March 15th will make the deadline for student loans and scholarships for those beginning education in the spring semester.
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