Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1949-10-31
Norway's Popular
Vacation System
Sweeping Country

/
union movement has given special
attention to the question of annual
holidays with pay for workers and
employees.
In 1885 provisions governing
holidays with pay were included
in the legislation by the passing of
the Workers Protection A C t,
granting workers and employees
nine annual hilidays. Through col
lective bargaining the length of
the vacation was later extended
to IL days.
BY Act of Parliament of Novem-
Der IA, 1947, the right to an an
nual holiday Of three weeks was
granted all Norwegian wage earn
ers and salaried employees, with
out discrimination as to occupa-
ton or position. Thus, during the
last two years about 100000
workers and employees have been
enjoying three weeks vacation
with pay.
Holiday Homes"
The terms leisure" and "holi-
days" would, however, seen rather
delusive to the workers unless
they are given an opportunity of
making appropriate use of their
holidays and time off. A large
number of the trade unions have,
therefore, established ''hol id y
homes" or centers, at which the
union members and their families
are enjoying their vacations and
week-ends at very re a S o n b lie
rates. The first trade union holiday
home was built by the Printers
Union nearly so years ago, and
today 232 such vacation centers
are in eXistance throughout the
country. The National Union of
Local Government Workers Union
has %, while the Railwaymen, the
Printers and the workers in the
building trades have established
20 centers each. Many new centers
are under construction.
The body coordinating the trade
union holiday activities is the Nor
wegian Workers Travel and Holi-
day Association-Nor Folkeferie
which was established in 1889,
and re-established in 1916, it's
activities having been put to an
end by the Germans during the
occupation. Norske Folkeferie is
a cooperative society of the Nor
wegian Federation of Trade
Unions, the greater part of the
National Trade Unions, the Work
ers' Educational Association, the
Norwegian National Federation of
Cooperative Societies and other
organizations within the lober
movement.
Low Cost Hotels and Resorts
The primary task of Norske
Folkeferie is to provide mex
pensive and healthful holidays for
the people, by arranging tours
within the country and abroad, and
by establishing holiday centers and
resorts. The Association already
own three hotels, two at the South
ern seashore, and one in the
mountains with a capacity of IT'S
guests. The hotels provide day
nurseries for children to give the
housewives time off as well EOlke-
ferie also arranges weekend tours
and outings and organizes sum-
mer schools.
An exchange arrangement has
been effected with kindred organ
izations in the other Nordic
countries and the Workers Travel
Organizations in Great Britain,
France and Switzerland
Even Distribution Of Vacations
In dealing with the social as
poets Of holiday problems Norsk
Folkeferie works closely with the
other social organizations. and
both Norsk Folkefeire and the
Norwegian Federation of Trade
Unions are represented on the
National Holiday Council set up
by the Government in 1913.
The fact that 100000 people in
Norway are entitled to three
weeks annual vacation is bound to
affect production, and in order