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Employers must give employees an annual leave of 25 working days each calendar year. Working days are defined as all non-Sundays, statutory weekends, or public holidays. Employees over 60 years of age are entitled to 6 extra days of leave. An employee who turns 60 during the calendar year shall be given extra leave of six working days. If the extra leave is divided, the employee can only demand to take as many working days off as they normally have during a week.

An employee who joins no later than September 30 in the calendar year is entitled to full annual leave (25 working days). An employee who joins after this time is entitled to an annual leave of six working days.

A written agreement can be entered into on the termination of an advance holiday of up to 12 working days and the transfer of up to 12 working days holiday to the following holiday year. Advance holiday and transfer of holiday beyond this can not be agreed.

In Norway, employees who have worked for the employer for at least two months are entitled to self-declared sick leave (i.e., notifying their employer that they cannot work due to illness without presenting a medical certificate). Self-declared sick leave can be used for up to 3 calendar days at a time and 4 times in 12 months.

If an employee is sick longer than the time allowed by the self-declaration, they must present a medical certificate from a doctor.

Loss of income due to illness may entitle an employee to sickness benefits if they have been employed for at least 4 weeks before sick leave begins. Employees are entitled to sickness benefits for a maximum of 52 weeks. A self-declaration or a medical certificate must document the illness. Employees are entitled to sickness benefits from their first day of absence. The employer pays the sickness benefit for the first 16 days, after which the Norwegian National Insurance scheme takes over. Employees earning more than 6 times the base amount for the year are not entitled to a sickness benefit.

In Norway, a pregnant employee is entitled to a leave of absence for up to 12 weeks during her pregnancy. After childbirth, the mother takes a leave of absence for the first 6 weeks of the post-birth period unless she produces a medical certificate stating that it is preferable that she resume work.

The parental benefit period ranges for a single birth from 49 weeks (15 weeks are reserved for each parent) with 100% wage coverage to 61 weeks and 1 day (19 weeks are reserved for each parent) with 80% wage coverage. The parental benefit is calculated in the same way as sickness benefits. The maximum benefit is equivalent to 6 times the National Insurance Basic Amount annually, regardless of whether the parent's income is higher.

Leave rights related to having a child mean that parents, together, are entitled to take leave until the child attains 3 years of age. The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service (NAV) pays the first year. To ensure staffing predictability, the employer can demand that the leave be taken as a continuous period.

Under Norway's law, fathers are entitled to 2 weeks' leave of absence to help their child's mother after childbirth. If the parents do not cohabitate, another individual assisting the mother may exercise the right to leave of absence.

Adoptive and foster parents have the right to 2 2-week leave of absence when the child first comes into their care. This does not apply when adopting stepchildren or when the child is over 15.

Fathers are entitled to parental leave benefits. The parental benefit period ranges for a single birth from 49 weeks with 100% wage coverage to 61 weeks and 1 day with 80% wage coverage. In the case of a twin birth or multiple adoptions, the benefit period is extended to 66 weeks of 100% benefits or 82 weeks and 2 days of 80% benefits. If a father or co-mother only has a right to parental allowance or solely cares for the child, then the allowance changes.

The parental benefit is calculated in the same way as sickness benefits. The maximum benefit is equivalent to 6 times the National Insurance Basic Amount annually, regardless of whether the parents' income is higher.

Pension

The National Insurance Scheme of Norway provides retirement benefits to insured persons. The legal retirement age is 67 years. To be eligible for a retirement pension, a person must have had at least 3 years of insurance. The 3 years requirement is waived for people receiving disability benefits due to occupational injury at the age of 67.

The pension is paid as a base amount fixed for the year, irrespective of the person's previous income. People who have 40 years of insurance coverage are eligible to receive a full pension. For those with less than 40 years of coverage, the benefit is reduced proportionately. Individuals with at least 3 years of insurance coverage have the right to a minimum level of pension. The spousal supplement is 25% for a cohabiting spouse.

The funds for the national insurance schemes are sourced from the contributions made by employers and employees.

Dependents/Survivors Benefits

The National Insurance Scheme of Norway provides for survivors' benefits in the case of a member's death. The eligible survivors are the deceased's spouse and children. The amount of benefits depends on the base amount of National Insurance for the year. The annual basic amount is set to NOK 124,028 (Norwegian kroner) for the year 2024-2025, effective from May 1, 2024. From January 1, 2024, survivor's pension is limited to 3 years. If they take an education approved by NAV, or if they have work training via NAV, the pension can be extended for up to 2 years.

The survivor benefit for children and spouse is paid if the deceased parent was a member of the National Insurance for at least 3 years immediately before death or the deceased parent was a recipient of a retirement pension for 3 years immediately before death.

The funds for the national insurance schemes are sourced from the contributions made by employers and employees.

Invalidity Benefits

The National Insurance in Norway provides for insured residents who have had their income permanently reduced due to illness or injury. To be eligible for this benefit, persons must have been insured for at least 5 years immediately before the onset of disability. For individuals who become disabled before the age of 26 years, the required insurance duration is 1 year prior to the disability. Another condition for entitlement is that the person is still a member of the National Insurance Scheme. Anyone who is not a member of the National Insurance Scheme receives disability benefits if he or she has at least 20 years of insurance coverage. The beneficiary should be between 18 and 67 years of age. A person's ability to perform income-generating work must be permanently reduced by at least 50% for him or her to be eligible for disability benefits. If an occupational injury causes the disability, it is sufficient that the earning capacity is permanently reduced by 30% to be eligible for benefits.

The disability benefits are paid as 66% of the insured's average pensionable income in the best 3 of the last 5 years before the disability began. The minimum benefit is 2.28 times the base amount for persons living with their spouses (2.66 times if the disability started before the age of 26 years) and 2.48 times the base amount for others (2.91 if the disability began before the age of 26 years). The full benefit is paid to individuals who have had insurance coverage for at least 40 years. If the insurance period is shorter than 40 years, the unemployment benefit is reduced accordingly.

The legal working age in Norway is 15 years. Children above the age of 13 years can be employed in light work. The law prohibits employing people under 18 years of age in any work that is detrimental to their safety, health, development, or schooling. The normal working hours for young persons are less than the normal working hours allowed for adults. Employers must ensure that young persons employed in night work undergo a medical examination before commencing employment.

People under the age of 18 are to be provided with a 30-minute break if the work exceeds 4.5 hours. Young people under the age of 15 or who attend compulsory education must be provided with 14 hours of daily rest. Youth between 15 and 18 years old who attend compulsory education must be provided with 12 hours of daily rest. Individuals under the age of 18 must be provided with 48 hours of continuous weekly rest.