This year marks 30 years since the EEA Agreement came into force. It was supposed to give migrant workers freedom of movement and equal treatment across national borders. But in Norway, thousands miss out on welfare services to which they are entitled.

One of them is Romanian Marina, who tells her story in the book "The insignificant ones" by Vilde Fastvold. Four days before giving birth, she is in full-time employment, but is struggling to gain rights in the Norwegian social security system because she lacks a Norwegian social security number. Marina does not have a permanent position, but is on call. Without a social security number, she loses her entitlement to national insurance, even though she has paid her taxes.

Go to Caritas for help

Marina is not the only one who experiences this. On a weekly basis, the Caritas Resource Center is visited by migrant workers from EEA countries who need legal help. These include people who have lived, worked and paid taxes to the Norwegian state for up to 10 to 15 years. But they still haven't been assigned a social security number that gives them access to a range of welfare benefits. Instead, they live with a temporary D-number. According to the the National Registry Act this is intended for people who will be here for less than six months. In the absence of the right to a GP, they must go to the emergency room or private health center for help, and pay a much higher co-payment.

According to Statistics Norway 96,600 people registered with a D-number i 2023. Many of the people we meet live in unstable and undignified housing conditions, together with other compatriots. Often, their employer has provided the accommodation, which makes them particularly vulnerable to exploitation. When they are not entitled to free Norwegian language training, as other immigrant groups are, the situation does not improve. Without being able to speak Norwegian, many remain excluded, even though they may want to become part of Norwegian society.

Interpreting the rules too strictly

Upon arrival in Norway, all migrant workers from EEA countries are assigned a D-number by the Norwegian Tax Administration. This is despite the fact that the scheme is only intended for people who will be here for less than six months. When the intention is to stay in Norway for at least six months, or you have actually been here that long, you can, according to the National Registry Act § 4-2 you can be registered as a resident (folkeregistrert).

However, the way the authorities practice this today, documentation of continued intent to live and work in Norway is required to be registered as a resident, even from those who have lived here for more than six months. In other words, the Norwegian Tax Administration has a stricter practice than the law requires. The consequence is that many migrant workers with a loose connection to working life do not meet the requirements for a Norwegian social security number.

Must change practice

We believe the practice is in violation of the EEA Agreement, which states that employees from EEA countries have right to free movement and equal treatment when it comes to social benefits such as GPs, housing benefit and Bank ID. Preventing foreign workers from getting a Norwegian social security number is a violation of their right to free movement. Therefore, we ask the Storting to instruct the Norwegian Tax Administration to adjust its practices so that migrant workers who have been fully paid for six months or more, and who wish to remain in Norway, are granted the right to a social security number.