Page 31: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q4 2015)
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that “set a minimum wage” on foreign workers to avoid their overuse has stymied “national salaries.” “The analysis in the report has con? rmed that the strong growth in labor immigration the past decade has created less growth in employment among national labor, weakened salary growth and increased salary differences in affected industries and professions,” Bjornstad’s report maintains. Norway’s for- eign workers, largely Polish, have at times been half of the 600 to 1,200 workers at the busiest Norwegian shipyards.
Within hours of NRK reporting Bjornstad and the SSB’s ? ndings, the story appeared on a popular Norwegian building industry Web site. The report Effects of Universalizing Col- lective Salary Agreements cites U.S. and French economists
Robert Solow and Thomas Piketty in concluding that a loss of industrial direction occurs “in periods of high labor migra- tion.” Other ill effects of foreign labor on a suddenly vulner- able Norwegian economy are a reliance on people rather than capital and technology.
Back in Germany, where Hackman has been busy with the launch of a new Breakaway Class cruise ship, he told MarPro, “There are no people yet for photographs.” Refugee trainees won’t be arriving for weeks. Hackman says he doesn’t think government (or European Union “crisis” money) is part of the training scheme. “We’re not training thousands, and we don’t guarantee they’ll be employed a decade on,” he admits. “But perhaps the training gives them a chance.” 18-33 Q4 MP2015.indd 31 11/18/2015 10:11:56 AM