Minimum wage for cleaners takes effect in Longyearbyen

A general-application regulation for cleaning firms from Tariffnemnda, the state tariff board, took effect in Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard for the first time on Friday, Frifagbevegelse reported on 6 November. Cleaners there must earn at least 247.29 crowns an hour, or 196.05 below age 18. Night work, from 21:00 to 06:00 Svalbard time, adds at least 29 crowns per hour.

Svein Jonny Albrigtsen, of the LO trade union confederation in Svalbard, said that firms could until now pay 10 crowns hourly without penalty. Arbeidstilsynet, the labour inspectorate, now had a tool to stop this, he said.

The government's bill on the general-application law in Svalbard said the agency would check the rules in ordinary inspections, as on the mainland.

Coverage: Frifagbevegelse