Table 1
Overview of the white papers selected for analysis.
| WHITE PAPERS | PRESENTED TO THE STORTING BY WHICH GOVERNMENT | SELECTED SECTION FOR ANALYSIS AND THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE REPORT |
|---|---|---|
| Report to Storting No 88 (1966–1967) On the development of care for disabled people | Presented to the Storting by a coalition government consisting of the Conservative Party, Centre Party, Christian Democratic Party, and Liberal Party Recommendation of the Ministry of Social Affairs of 23 June 1967 | Introduction & Chapter 5 ‘The Government hereby presents a report to the Storting on issues linked to disabled people, on measures that have already been implemented and on the guidelines that should be complied with in future work in this area’ (3).2 |
| Report to the Storting No 23 (1977–1978) Disabled people in society | Presented to the Storting by a Labour Party government Recommendation of the Ministry of Social Affairs of 26 August 1978 | Introduction & Chapter 8 ‘By elucidating various aspects – health, education, work, housing, leisure time – of a person’s life situation, the report aims to see the individual in a comprehensive and overall context. The aim has thus not been to focus on the disability as such. Underlining the similarities between disabled and able-bodied people has been more important than highlighting differences, concerning their fundamental needs, possibilities and human rights. Changing and improving the situation of disabled people is therefore closely linked to the general development of society and cannot be seen or understood independently or isolated from it. Attitudes, ideologies and views of humanity are vital to how quickly the goals can be achieved’ (5). |
| Report to the Storting No 39 (1991–1992) Rehabilitation and employment for vocationally disabled people | Presented to the Storting by a Labour Party government Recommendation of the Ministry of Government Administration and Labour of 10 April 1992 | Introduction & Chapter 6 The white paper provides ‘an overall assessment of sickness absence, rehabilitation, disability pension and strategies to promote the integration of vocationally disabled people/disabled people in the labour market. The policy and measures presented in this white paper herald the start of further policy development in this area’ (8). |
| Report to the Storting No 40 (2002–2003) Dismantling of disabling barriers | Presented to the Storting by a coalition government consisting of the Conservative Party, Christian Democratic Party and Liberal Party Recommendation of the Ministry of Social Affairs of 13 June 2003 | Introduction & Chapter 5 ‘In this white paper, the Government presents strategies, goals and measures in its policy for people with functional impairments. People with functional impairments still face barriers that prevent equal opportunities for activity and participation. Disability arises in the gap between the individual’s preconditions and the requirements made by society. A policy for dismantling disabling barriers must improve the individual’s possibilities while also making society more accessible’ (5). |
| Report to the Storting No 9 (2006–2007) Work, welfare and inclusion | Presented to the Storting by a coalition government consisting of the Labour Party, Centre Party and Socialist Left Party Recommendation of the Ministry of Labour of 3 November 2006 | The entire report ‘In this white paper on labour market inclusion and welfare, the Government reviews measures aimed at persons of working age who experience problems in gaining entry into working life, or who are about to drop out of working life’ (15). |
| Report to the Storting No 13 (2018–2019) Opportunities for all | Presented to the Storting by a coalition government consisting of the Conservative Party, Progress Party and Liberal Party Recommendation of the Ministry of Finance of 1 March 2019 | Introduction, chapters 3 and 8 ‘This white paper addresses (among other things) inequality and low income in Norway, and the significance of the labour market and welfare schemes for distribution and opportunities. The white paper also sets out the Government’s efforts towards social sustainability and on combatting inequality and the consequences of inequality’ (5). |
Appendix 1
Overview of WAs in white papers from 1966 to 2019.
| Report to the Storting | i) Physical/technological modifications (Assistive devices, built environment) | ii) Workplace flexibility accommodations (Job modifications, personal assistance services, scheduling accommodations, work locations, transportation) | iii) Social accommodations (Workplace culture, workplace supports, communication) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report to the Storting No 88 (1966–1967) On the development of care for disabled people Presented to the Storting by a coalition government consisting of the Conservative Party, Centre Party, Christian Democratic Party and Liberal Party | To employees: Grants are available to cover technical aids (e.g., audio recorder, writing equipment for the blind, glasses, hearing aids). To employers: Grants or loans to acquire technical aids in the workplace. | Temporary wage subsidy (up to 24 weeks). Grants are available to acquire adapted transportation. Grants are available if moving is required to get a job and to access housing. | |
| Report to the Storting No 23 (1977–1978) Disabled people in society Presented to the Storting by the Labour government | Technical aids and adaptation of the workplace will be funded by National Insurance contributions ‘The new Working Environment Act addresses consideration for disabled employees, including requirements relating to the design and arrangement of passageways, sanitary facilities, technical devices and equipment etc. to ensure that the enterprises can employ disabled people’ (64). | Temporary wage subsidy for up to one year for work training candidates. A graded disability pension if work capacity is reduced by at least 50%. | |
| Report to the Storting No 39 (1991–1992) Rehabilitation and work for vocationally disabled people Presented to the Storting by the Labour government | Increase competence in the regional assistive technology centres about technical aids required in employment. Most of the aids the centres provide are not related to employment-related activities. The employer must pay for technical aids but if expenses exceed half of the National Insurance basic amount; National Insurance contributions may cover the rest. For those with reduced work capacity who find it hard to find work on their own, the National Insurance scheme will cover all technical aid expenses. Under section 6.7 Adaptation of workplaces, technical aids and information technology: ‘However, technical aids have not been used to any significant extent in workplace accommodation’ (94). This is explained by poor knowledge of workplace accommodation among help services, employers and employees alike. ‘The employment service does not provide grants for technical aids in the workplace’ (94), but the National Insurance scheme can do so to a certain extent. Competence in workplace accommodation through the use of technical aids will be clarified in the future organisation of assistive technology centres. | A graded disability pension if work capacity is reduced by at least 50%; a greater emphasis is needed on the use of this combination. May need a reduced work schedule. | Funding available for mentorship at workplace level through an integration subsidy scheme, which can last for up to 3 years. |
| Report to the Storting No 40 (2002–2003) Presented to the Storting by a coalition government consisting of the Conservative Party, Christian Democratic Party and Liberal Party | The employer is responsible for adapting the physical environment and for providing the technical aids required to do work tasks. | The employer is responsible for adapting working hours, work tasks and the necessary training to do the job. Functional assistance, previously a temporary measure, will be introduced as a permanent measure. No limit on the number of hours for interpreters. | |
| Report to the Storting No 9 (2006–2007) | The employment and welfare agency may provide support for technical aids, adaptations of machines and adaptation of the physical environment. Job seeker with a disability: through the ‘guaranteed follow-up’ scheme, a disabled job seeker can present documentation to the employer showing that practical challenges associated with workplace accommodation for disabled people; this will quickly trigger assistance from the persons responsible in the local area or from the assistive technology centre. This is contingent on the user and the assistive technology centre collaborating on the content of the guarantee certificate. This ‘guaranteed follow-up’ certificate is a document that can be enclosed with the job application. The document provides a contact person at the assistive technology centre and outlines relevant measures when expedient. According to page 235, the employer is bound through the Working Environment Act to undertake certain duties to ensure that the workplace accommodates disabled job seekers. Section 4–1(4) of the Working Environment Act sets out a general requirement that passageways, sanitary facilities, work equipment, etc. shall, to the extent possible and reasonable, be designed and arranged so that employees with disabilities can work at the enterprise. Reference is made to the new Act of 2004 (14). We have a new Working Environment Act that highlights and clarifies employers’ responsibility to prevent exclusion and make adaptations for vulnerable employees. Employers shall ensure that the working environment is fully satisfactory at all times. This also applies during reorganisations. We have means of ensuring that employers meet the requirements set out in the Working Environment Act, e.g., inspections, orders and sanctions such as coercive fines and halting of work. | The employment and welfare agency may provide support for reading and secretarial assistance for the blind and partially sighted, interpreting assistance for the hearing impaired and interpreting and accompanying assistance for the deafblind. According to page 103, transport assistance can be provided on various grounds. People who are dependent on using a particular means of transport, i.e., taxi to and from work, because of a disability may be entitled to a basic transport benefit. To be able to get to and from their place of work, assistance can be granted for the procurement of a car for people with permanent mobility problems. It is a condition for this benefit that the disabled person’s disability renders them unable to use public transport or that the use of public transport entails an unreasonable burden. | |
| Report to the Storting No 13 (2018–2019) | The wage subsidy scheme has been simplified to enable employers to use it more and to employ more people from vulnerable groups. |