Norwegian union Lederne has called on the government to protect jobs and skills at the country's shipyards and suppliers ahead of a feared sharp decline in activity in 2027–2028.
Lederne is seeking more flexible temporary lay-off arrangements and better training opportunities for laid-off workers. It also wants measures to safeguard apprenticeships and recruitment, a national restructuring programme for affected industrial regions and accelerated investment in projects capable of generating new contracts.
The union said shrinking orderbooks were causing concern in coastal industrial centres including Stord, Haugesund and Stavanger. It warned that a temporary downturn could cause lasting losses if companies shed key personnel, cut apprentice intake or disband specialist teams.
"We risk losing expertise that has taken several decades to build up," union leader Audun Ingvartsen said. "The government must act now, not when temporary lay-offs and redundancies have already become a reality."
Ingvartsen linked shipyard capacity to Norway's ability to carry out future energy, industrial and defence projects and to national preparedness.
Under current rules, employers can lay off staff without wages for up to 26 weeks within an 18-month period.
On September 30, Vestland county council asked the state for restructuring funds for Stord, where the Aker Solutions yard is due to complete the Valhall and Hugin A platform projects this autumn.
