Norway private sector workers face potential income gaps during sick leave

Recent data from Statistics Norway (SSB) reveals that many private sector employees may face significant financial losses during long-term sick leave. While employees in the public sector are guaranteed full salary coverage through agreements, coverage in the private sector varies based on individual or collective bargaining agreements.

In Norway, the National Insurance Scheme (Folketrygden) only covers sick pay up to six times the basic amount (6G). For 2025, this threshold is approximately 768,700 NOK. Employees earning above this limit may not receive their full salary after the initial 16-day employer period unless specific arrangements are in place. For an individual earning 900,000 NOK, this could result in a monthly loss of nearly 11,000 NOK before tax.

SSB reports that nearly 748,000 workers earned above the 6G threshold in November 2025. Approximately 30 percent of private sector employees lack coverage that ensures at least 90 percent of their salary above the 6G limit during extended illness.