Employment & Social Affairs
Employment & Social Affairs
Iceland is via the EEA Agreement part of the internal EU labour market, which means that Iceland has adopted all the EU rules that concern free movement of workers, health and safety at work, equal pay and workers’ right to social security and the acknowledgement of professional qualifications. Furthermore, the EEA Agreement gives Iceland the opportunity to participate in areas which are outside the four freedoms, such as social affairs and equal rights for men and women.
Free movement of workers
Rules on free movement of workers are basic fundaments of the internal market and the European Economic Area. Article 28 of the EEA Agreement states that freedom of movement for workers be secured among EC Member States and EFTA States. Such freedom may not come under any form of discrimination based on nationality, remuneration or other conditions of work and employment. Furthermore, according to Article 68 of the Agreement, the member states must introduce the measures necessary in the field of labour law to ensure the smooth functioning of the Agreement. On these grounds, the EEA/EFTA states have incorporated various EU acts on labour law, as listed in Annex XVIII to the EEA Agreement.
Health and safety
EU rules concerning the health and safety of workers also apply to the labour market in the EEA/EFTA countries. These rules both contribute to harmonising the working conditions and securing the welfare and health of workers, as well as to equalising the competitive posision of companies in the internal market.
Equality between women and men
The EEA Agreement contains rules concerning gender equality. Firstly, the member states are obliged to secure men and women the same pay for the same work. Secondly, the member states must promote the principle of equal treatment for men and women by implementing the provisions which are specified in Annex XVIII. Iceland has via the EEA Agreement been an active participant in EU’s Gender Equality Programmes. The Icelandic Directorate for Gender Equality, Jafnréttisstofa, has been the formal coordinator of the Icelandic gender equality work and participation at EU level.
Social affairs, social security and professional qualifications
The EEA Agreement contains provisions on increasing cooperation in the field of social policy. The Economic and Social Committee of the EU and the EEA Consultative Committee work together on a regular basis in order to raise awareness of the economic and social effects of the growing interdependence of economies within the EEA. Thus the EEA Agreement gives the opportunity to cooperate in the field of social affairs, and Iceland participates in e.g. the Community Action Programme to combat discrimination, the Community Action Programme to combat social exclusion and the Daphne Programmes. However, the EEA Agreement does not oblige the EEA/EFTA states to incorporate EU legislation into national laws in fields of social policy not directly related to the four freedoms.
Social security for migrant workers falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, which also deals with the recognition of professional qualification of health professionals.
The Counsellor for Employment & Social Affairs is:
Tel: +32 (0)2 238 5017
Fax: +32 (0)2 230 69 38
