June 23, 2025
Posting (Norwegian: utstasjonering) refers to the temporary assignment of an employee by a Polish company to work in Norway, typically in connection with a project or the provision of services. Posting is different from a business trip—it entails compliance with Norwegian labor law and EEA (European Economic Area) regulations.
In Norway, the obligation to provide accommodation and meals does not come from general labor laws but from extended collective agreements (allmenngjorte tariffavtaler). If a company's sector is covered by such an agreement, the employer must cover the costs of accommodation and meals for the posted employee.
This applies to sectors such as:
Accommodation:
Payroll Deductions:
According to Norwegian regulations and the interpretation of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet):
Local transportation (e.g., from housing to the work site):
Legal basis:
Unlike many EU countries, Norway imposes stricter obligations regarding accommodation, meals, and transport—mainly due to extended collective agreements. In the EU (e.g., Germany, France, the Netherlands), there is no general requirement to cover meal costs—daily allowances (per diems) typically apply.
🔹 The employer must provide or cover:
🔹 Failure to meet these obligations may result in:
Want to ensure your employee postings comply with Norwegian law?
Contact our team—we'll help you prepare document templates, a posting policy, and optimize costs. We have the knowledge and experience. We stay in constant contact with Norwegian institutions and adapt our procedures to Norwegian regulations.
In the following weeks we shall present regulations specific for single branches. This article concentrates on the general conditions.
Posting an Employee to Norway – Legal Framework
Posting (Norwegian: utstasjonering) refers to the temporary assignment of an employee by a Polish company to work in Norway, typically in connection with a project or the provision of services. Posting is different from a business trip—it entails compliance with Norwegian labor law and EEA (European Economic Area) regulations.
Accommodation and Meals – Employer Responsibilities
In Norway, the obligation to provide accommodation and meals does not come from general labor laws but from extended collective agreements (allmenngjorte tariffavtaler). If a company's sector is covered by such an agreement, the employer must cover the costs of accommodation and meals for the posted employee.
This applies to sectors such as:
- Construction (Byggebransjen)
- Electrical installations (Elektrofag)
- Shipbuilding and manufacturing (Verftindustrien)
- Cleaning services (Renhold)
- Hospitality, catering, and restaurants
- Agriculture and horticulture
- Fish processing industry
- Road transport (passenger and freight)
Legal basis:
- Allmenngjøringsforskrifter (regulations on general application of collective agreements)
- § 2–2 and § 2–3 of the Act on General Application of Collective Agreements (Lov om allmenngjøring av tariffavtaler)
- § 4–6 of the Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven)
What Are the Specific Employer Obligations?
Accommodation:
- Employers must provide safe and decent housing that complies with regulations.
- More information on
housing requirements for foreign workers in Norway is available in our separate article. - The employer may cover lodging expenses via invoice or provide company housing.
Meals:
- Many collective agreements require at least one hot meal per day.
- If meals are not provided, a daily food allowance must be paid.
Payroll Deductions:
- Employers cannot deduct accommodation or meal costs from wages unless clearly stated in the employment contract and compliant with the applicable collective agreements.
Transport – Who Covers the Costs?
According to Norwegian regulations and the interpretation of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet):
Travel from Poland to Norway and back:
- Employers must cover travel expenses to the job site and back after the assignment ends.
- These costs cannot be passed on to the employee—even in cases of early termination.
Local transportation (e.g., from housing to the work site):
- If the workplace is significantly distant, the company should provide transportation or reimburse travel expenses.
- In some collective agreements (e.g., construction), this obligation is explicitly stated.
Legal basis:
- Forskrift om delvis allmenngjøring av tariffavtaler for byggeplasser i Norge, §6
- Arbeidsmiljøloven § 4–6 – obligation to cover return travel
- Arbeidstilsynet guidelines: "Posted workers shall have the same rights as Norwegian workers, including travel and accommodation."
Posting to Norway vs. Other EU Countries
Unlike many EU countries, Norway imposes stricter obligations regarding accommodation, meals, and transport—mainly due to extended collective agreements. In the EU (e.g., Germany, France, the Netherlands), there is no general requirement to cover meal costs—daily allowances (per diems) typically apply.
What Should a Foreign Company Do in Norway?
- Check if the sector is covered by an allmenngjort tariffavtale—available at arbeidstilsynet.no.
- Include accommodation, meals, and transport costs in the project budget.
- Prepare a written posting policy that includes:
- Rules for expense reimbursement
- Procedures for accommodation and meal standards
- Document templates (contract, RF-1198 registration, A-melding, D-number, contract annex)
Summary
🔹 The employer must provide or cover:
- Accommodation and meals – if required by the collective agreement
- Travel to/from Norway – fully covered
- Local transport to the work site – if necessary due to distance
🔹 Failure to meet these obligations may result in:
- Fines from Arbeidstilsynet
- Loss of contracts
Want to ensure your employee postings comply with Norwegian law?
Contact our team—we'll help you prepare document templates, a posting policy, and optimize costs. We have the knowledge and experience. We stay in constant contact with Norwegian institutions and adapt our procedures to Norwegian regulations.
Questions about doing business & accounting services in Norway?
Send question now!We are here to help you.