Norway: collective agreement in retail sector provides for implementation of a skills map amid context of changing professions and makes the environment a topic of social dialogue at firms

As is now the accepted rule in most Nordic countries, negotiations over collective pay agreements on a confederation level in Norway have given way to bargaining on an industry branch level, followed by local agreements in companies negotiated on the basis of the branch agreement. Negotiations commenced in the industry sector, which sets the tone as it is an export industry subject to international competition. Other sectors followed, such as that of retail, which signed a particularly innovative agreement on 12 September.