Norway and Denmark agree on defence cooperation
Norway and Denmark have announced they would increase cooperation on defence due to a “challenging” security situation in Europe.
"The two countries need to increase their defence capabilities, and we see the advantages of closer cooperation. This will not only strengthen the defence of both nations, but will also contribute to overall Nordic and Northern European defence capabilities," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement with the Norwegian government.
The two countries said there was an increased need for Europe to assume responsibility for its own defence.
"We are already collaborating on maintaining the F-35 aeroplanes. By investing in platforms, weapons systems, joint sensors and ammunition, we can reduce both purchasing and maintenance costs," Støre said.
Norse continues to lose money
Long-haul airline Norse Atlantic continues to lose money and lost 135.5 million dollars before taxes last year.
The losses were an improvement on 2023 when the company lost 168.7 million dollars, and the airline was able to increase revenue compared to 2023, too.
The airline operated 5,402 flights in 2024, and flights were also fuller than the year before.
Finance minister says real wage growth likely
Minister of Finance Jens Stoltenberg has said there is room for real wage growth in this year’s salary settlement.
“I will not say anything about exactly how the wage settlement should be resolved. That is for the parties in the labour market to do. That being said: There is probably some room for real wage growth here. So to speak,” he said, according to Dagens Næringsliv.
“The Norwegian economy is now in a much better position, and there is room for wages to grow more than prices. They did last year, and it is likely that they will do so this year as well. And it is not the Minister of Finance who negotiates wages, it is the social partners who do so. But when I am at an income policy conference in an organisation that is going to negotiate wages, I think it was good to convey that message,” he added.
Stoltenberg attended an event at the Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS) on Tuesday.
Half of season worker permits issued to firms who have broken the law
Norway’s Directorate of Immigration has issued some 12,000 seasonal worker work permits to firms who have broken the law, the newspaper Aftenposten reports.
The permits are granted on the basis that the worker will receive Norwegian pay and working conditions, with the UDI granting 23,775 residence permits to seasonal workers over the past ten years.
Some 322 companies that have received seasonal permits for workers have failed to pay overtime, violated safety regulations, underpaid staff, or failed to record their working hours. Only five of these companies have been prevented by the UDI from applying for permits.
Comments