Labor Market Affairs

Policy accepted May 19, 2019

That the base rate of minimum wages and the tax-free threshold are never below the official subsistence level.

That the gap between the highest and lowest wages will be reduced.

To ensure equality in the labor market and that different groups receive the same terms for the same work.

That a clear action plan be put in place when human trafficking is discovered, and that special attention is paid to ensuring that staffing agencies comply with laws and regulations or face penalties.

To prevent ID number hopping and wage theft through stronger legislation and penalties.

That ÖBÍ's demands for the rejection of work capacity assessment and the abolition of the krona-for-krona reduction for pensioners be supported.

To promote the establishment of cooperatives in the form of democratic, employee-owned enterprises.

To protect democracy in trade unions.

Ensuring human dignity, respect, and safety in the labor market with decent terms and working conditions.

That the state and municipalities are not leading in low-wage policy.

That the outsourcing of public sector jobs be stopped.

That special care is taken to ensure that foreign staff enjoy the same terms and rights as Icelandic staff and have good access to information about labor laws and collective agreements.

To prevent an undue connection between employer and landlord.

That employment participation does not reduce the livelihood of pensioners or others who rely on income from the public sector.

That parental leave be extended to 18 months.

To promote increased democracy in workplaces.

To promote a more humane society with a 32-hour work week.

Additional content

The Socialist Party of Iceland is a party for working people and all those who experience scarcity, invisibility, and powerlessness. People shall enjoy respect, decent wages, good working conditions, and safety in the workplace. The strength of working people lies in their unity through strong labor unions 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 dropping out of the labor market prematurely. Therefore, the lowest wages shall be raised, and it shall also be aimed for the highest wages in state and municipalities to be at most three times those. Furthermore, incentives to pay excessive salaries shall be reduced through the tax system and legislation.

It shall be prevented that the state and municipalities outsource certain job functions (e.g., cleaning and catering) within their workplaces and instead hire long-term staff to perform these tasks 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 staff 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 staff unfamiliar with the Icelandic labor market are not automatically placed on the lowest rates and that their education and experience are not disregarded in terms of wages. Clear rules shall also be established for volunteer work so that it does not undermine the wage struggle of working people.

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

Pensioners and others who wish and are able to work part-time should not face worse terms for their work contribution, neither in the form of wages nor krona-for-krona reductions, so that people can be prevented 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 staff in corporate decision-making must be increased, and they must be given a greater share in their profits. Efforts shall be made for staff to have representatives on the boards of their workplaces, and the establishment of cooperatives in the form of democratic, employee-owned companies shall be pursued. In the event of ownership changes or bankruptcy of companies, staff shall always have the right of first refusal.

The establishment of democratic companies shall be facilitated, among other things, with tax incentives and favorable operating loans. Furthermore, limited companies shall be given the option to convert into cooperatives and thus gain access to the same incentives and loans. Only two founding members shall be required for the establishment of cooperatives.

Democracy in trade unions shall be safeguarded, among other things, with provisions on maximum terms for board and committee membership and by strengthening member activity.

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