MPs' pay, allowances and other arrangements
MPs’ pay and other financial rights are laid down in the Act concerning the Remuneration for Members of the Storting (the Storting’s Remuneration Act), which entered into force on 1st January 2017. MPs’ pension rights are laid down in the Act concerning Pension Arrangements for Members of the Storting and Members of Government (the Storting and Government Pension Act) of 16th December 2011.
Remuneration for MPs
The remuneration for MPs, with the exception of the President of the Storting, is adopted by the Storting on the recommendation of the Storting’s Remuneration Committee, a separate committee which also sets the remuneration for members of the government. The Remuneration Committee assesses MPs’ pay annually. The President of the Storting’s remuneration is the same as that of the Prime Minister. Other members of the Storting’s Presidium are paid an additional allowance for representational duties and extra work associated with their role in the Presidium.
Basic rates
As of 1st May 2023, the fixed annual remuneration for an MP is NOK 1,107,190 gross per annum.
The President of the Storting receives the same annual remuneration as the Prime Minister, which, as of 1st May 2023, is NOK 1,945,077 gross per annum.
The First Vice President of the Storting has an additional allowance of +14% of an MP’s fixed annual remuneration. Other vice presidents and the chairs of the standing committees are paid +7% of the fixed annual remuneration.
As of 1st May 2023, the annual remuneration for members of the government is NOK 1,580, 186 gross per annum.
Severance pay
MPs who do not continue after a parliamentary election may apply for severance pay equal to the fixed remuneration for an MP for up to three months after the end of the previous parliamentary term. In order to qualify for severance pay, the person in question must submit a self-declaration form with details of their income situation. Severance pay shall be reduced if the individual’s other sources of income exceed NOK 5,000 during this period. The Presidium may also grant severance pay, with the same limitations, to Substitute MPs who have served in Parliament continuously for a certain length of time.
MPs who are actively seeking work or who take essential and relevant work-related training or education may apply for severance pay for up to one year after the three months stated above. This pay constitutes 66% of an MP’s fixed remuneration, and must be reduced in the event of any other earned income.
Holiday remuneration
Holiday remuneration is paid to MPs who do not continue after a parliamentary election. Holiday remuneration is equal to the rates set in the Basic Collective Agreement for the Civil Service, and is based on the remuneration during the final year of the parliamentary term.
Leave of absence
MPs may be granted leave of absence during sickness, in connection with the birth of a child or other care responsibilities, for participation in delegation travel, or for absence over an extended period. In other respects, leave of absence is only granted in exceptional circumstances. For more information, see §5 of the Storting’s Rules of Procedure.
During leave of absence, MPs retain their remuneration for up to 14 days, unless they notify the Storting’s administration that they would like to waive this right.
The Storting’s Presidium may, on application, permit MPs to retain their remuneration beyond the 14-day period in the following cases:
- for leave of absence due to sickness or injury
- for leave of absence to take part in travel as a member of a delegation appointed by the Storting or the Storting’s Presidium
- for leave of absence to attend meetings or to perform other duties on appointment by the King, the Storting or a ministry
- for leave of absence granted on compassionate grounds
For leave applications on the basis of a) above, a medical certificate must be submitted, either at the same time as the application, or as soon as possible after the leave has been granted. If this does not happen, the Storting’s Presidium may decide to cancel the remuneration for the remainder of the leave period.
During pregnancy leave, care leave and parental leave, and for leave due to the sickness of a child or a childminder, MPs have the right to retain their remuneration based on the rules covered by Chapter 12 of the Working Environment Act, Chapter 14 of the National Insurance Act, and the Basic Collective Agreement for the Civil Service. This provision also applies to Substitute MPs during their term of service.
The pension scheme
A new Act concerning Pension Arrangements for Members of the Storting and Members of Government (the Storting and Government Pension Act) entered into force on 1st January 2012.
The result of this was that the former pension schemes were replaced by a single scheme which follows the same principles as the National Insurance Scheme’s retirement pension. The retirement pension is now awarded as a direct supplement to the National Insurance Scheme’s retirement pension.
Among other things, the scheme has changed from being a gross pension scheme based on the MP in question’s final salary to being a net model.
The principle features of the current pension scheme are:
- Members of the pension scheme (MPs and members of the government) earn retirement pension rights on an annual basis in the form of a pension account. The pension account is earned on the basis of a fixed percentage of the remuneration for MPs or members of government. It comprises 6.03% of remuneration for up to 7.1 times the public pension base rate (abbreviated as G) and 24.13% of remuneration between 7.1 G and 12 G. As of 1 May 2021, G = NOK 106,399. The pension account is wage-indexed up to the point at which the retirement pension is taken out. Wage growth is determined by the King in Council.
- The annual retirement pension is calculated by dividing the total accumulated pension account by a certain figure. This figure reflects the beneficiary’s expected life expectancy at the time when the pension is taken out. The figure is designed so that the pension is life-expectancy adjusted in the same way as for the National Insurance Scheme.
- The retirement pension may be taken out flexibly from the ages of 62 to 75 on the same principals as for the National Insurance Scheme. A person may combine working with receiving a pension without this reducing the pension.
- As a rule, survivor’s pensions are covered by the rules of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund Act of 28th July 1949 No.26.
- Before payment starts, the accumulated pension rights are wage-indexed annually. Retirement pensions that are being paid are also wage-indexed, and 0.75% is then deducted from the amount. In this way, the principles for regulating pensions are the same as for the National Insurance Scheme. Retirement pensions taken out before the age of 67 shall be converted from the month after the MP in question reaches the age of 67. This is done by adjusting the total accumulated pension account in line with wage growth from the point at which it is taken out to the time at which it is converted.
- Pensions that are earned on the basis of the new rules shall not be co-ordinated with other pension benefits. Pensions that are earned on the basis of the previous scheme shall still be co-ordinated.
- There are certain transitional rules that are designed to ensure that earned pensions are correct in relation to the former pension scheme for MPs. For those who have earned pensions based on both the old and the current pension scheme, the total pension must not exceed the calculated maximum pension. MPs who had not earned pension rights before 1st October 2009, and members of government who had not earned pension rights before 1st January 2012 earn pension rights based on the scheme that has been in effect since 1st October 2009. For all other members of the scheme, the current rules were applicable as of 1st January 2012.
- MPs who qualified to receive a pension under the former scheme for MPs have had this right continued in the current Act. In the former scheme, a full retirement pension was awarded after 12 years’ service as an MP and made up 66% of pensionable income. Those with less than 12 years’ service had their pensions reduced accordingly. For those MPs who were in receipt of a retirement pension as of 1 January 2011, the total accumulated pension account was fixed at the annual gross remuneration at that time. The same applied for those who had ceased to be in office before 1 January 2011 without having taken out the pension. These pensions are regulated on the same basis as in the current scheme.
- MPs who had earned part of but not full pension rights under the former scheme, and who have continued to earn pension rights in the current scheme may qualify for a pension based partly on the old scheme and partly on the current scheme. The total pension account of the old and new scheme may not exceed the full pension account under the old scheme.
Travel expenses
Official travel and commuter travel at weekends are covered in full. Travel abroad must be approved, and expenses are covered in accordance with the Government Scale. The family members of MPs who live more than 40 km from the Storting may have up to two private visits covered annually per person.
Telecommunications expenses
MPs’ telecommunications expenses are covered in full.
Mobile office
MPs are equipped with a mobile office and a tablet computer.
Commuter accommodation
The Storting owns 143 variously sized furnished flats that are at the disposal, free of charge, of MPs who live more than a 40-kilometre drive from the Storting.
Last updated: 13.03.2024 15:30