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Norway: report on work environment situation of non-western workers
On 7 March 2005 the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority published a report on the working environment situation of non-western immigrant workers in Norway. The report finds that non-western immigrant workers seldom receive essential training and information about work environment issues, and are also more likely than their indigenous colleagues to have information withheld from them, either because of language barriers or because of direct discrimination. In its report the inspectorate finds that many non-western immigrants more often than indigenous employees find themselves without written work contracts.
The report also shows that a large number of companies lack the procedures needed for involving employees in areas that are of material importance to their physical and psychological health. The result of this is that many employees with a non-western background are not familiar with the health and safety work carried out in the company, nor the role and existence of the health- and safety officer. Non-western immigrant workers, according to the report, are also more prone to experience harassment at work. Immigrant workers are less prone to report on negative behaviour, and are more ready to accept abuse in fear of losing their jobs.