Conclusion of the Policy Board (Málefnastjórn) working group on labor market issues

The policy of the Socialist Party of Iceland (Sósíalistaflokkur Íslands) on labor market issues is:

To ensure human dignity, respect, and safety in the labor market with decent wages and working conditions.
That the basic rate of minimum wages and tax-free thresholds are never below the official subsistence level.
That the state and municipalities do not lead in low-wage policies.
That the gap between the highest and lowest wages be reduced.
That the outsourcing of public sector jobs be stopped.
That equality is ensured in the labor market and that different groups enjoy the same terms for the same work.
That special attention is paid to ensuring that foreign workers enjoy the same terms and rights as Icelandic workers and have good access to information on labor laws and collective agreements.
That a clear action plan is initiated when human trafficking is discovered and that staffing agencies are closely monitored to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, or face penalties.
To prevent an undue connection between employer and landlord.
To prevent shell company hopping and wage theft with robust legislation and penalties.
That participation in employment does not reduce the livelihood of pensioners or others who rely on public income.
To support the demands of ÖBÍ (The Icelandic Federation of Disability Organizations) to reject work capacity assessments and to stop the krona-for-krona reduction for pensioners.
That parental leave be extended to 18 months.
To promote increased democracy in workplaces.
To promote the establishment of cooperatives in the form of democratic enterprises owned by employees.
To foster a more humane society with a 32-hour work week.
To safeguard democracy in trade unions.

Further reading:

The Socialist Party of Iceland is a political party of the working class and supports its interests. People shall enjoy respect, decent wages, good working conditions, and safety in the workplace. The strength of employees lies in their unity through strong labor and trade unions.

Labor market parties, public or private, shall always use recognized public subsistence as a benchmark for the lowest basic rates. Tax-free thresholds shall be raised so that the lowest wages are never taxed. Low wages harm society as they place an enormous burden on low-wage earners, often resulting in them leaving the labor market prematurely. Therefore, the lowest wages shall be increased, and at the same time, the aim is that the highest wages in the state and municipalities will be at most three times those. Furthermore, incentives for paying excessive wages will be reduced through the tax system and legislation.

The state and municipalities shall be prevented from outsourcing certain job functions (e.g., cleaning and catering) within their workplaces and instead hire long-term staff to perform these jobs under the same terms and with the same rights as other public employees.

Furthermore, equality in workplaces shall be ensured, and it shall be guaranteed that people's rights are not violated based on gender, origin, religion, disability, or age.

A policy shall be formulated on how to receive foreign workers so that they know their rights and obligations and that the community's infrastructure can accommodate them, e.g., when it comes to housing, welfare services, workplace supervision, and Icelandic language teaching. Furthermore, it shall be monitored that foreign workers who are unfamiliar with the Icelandic labor market are not automatically placed on the lowest rates and that their education and experience are not valued for wages. Clear rules shall also be set for volunteer work so that it does not go against the wage struggle of employees.

The labor movement, in cooperation with authorities and employers, shall ensure that all information on collective agreements is accessible in various languages and that people, whether Icelandic or foreign, young people or disabled workers, are better protected from being exploited by employers. Furthermore, people shall have ownership of their work contribution, and laws restricting the general right to strike shall be abolished.

Pensioners and others who want and can work part-time should not face worse terms for their work contribution, neither in the form of wages nor krona-for-krona reductions, to prevent people from falling into a poverty trap. Furthermore, efforts shall be made to eliminate disability prejudice in workplaces, and accessibility issues shall be addressed more firmly.

The involvement of employees in company decision-making must be increased, and they must be given a greater share in their profits. Efforts shall be made to ensure that employees have representatives on the boards of their workplaces, and the establishment of cooperatives in the form of democratic enterprises owned by employees shall be aimed for. In the event of ownership changes or bankruptcy of companies, employees shall always have the right of first refusal.

The establishment of democratic enterprises shall be facilitated, e.g., with tax incentives and favorable operating loans. Limited companies shall also be given the option to convert into cooperatives and then gain access to the same incentives and loans. For the establishment of cooperatives, only two founding members are required.

Democracy in trade unions shall be safeguarded, e.g., with provisions on maximum terms for board and committee membership and by strengthening the activity of members.

The boards of pension funds shall always be composed of fund members who pay into them or have paid into them and earned rights, and no one else.