Everyone shall have equal opportunities, rights and obligations to take part in society and make use of their resources, irrespective of economic or social background. The Government’s overriding long-term goal is to rid society of poverty, and it wishes to improve the living conditions and opportunities available to those members of society who have the lowest income and the poorest living conditions.
The Government will pursue a policy aimed at reducing social differences. The efforts to combat poverty include measures involving the areas of responsibility of several sector ministries. The Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion is responsible for follow-up vis-à-vis the municipalities with respect to the Social Services Act chapter 5 on Financial Support and section 4-5 on Temporary Accommodation.
It is an important goal of welfare policy that as many occupationally disabled people as possible are able to provide for themselves through paid employment. This entails responsibility for the schemes relating to medical and occupational rehabilitation, for sickness benefit and disability benefit/pensions, benefits for single parents and coordination and follow-up of the Inclusive Workplace Agreement. Work on welfare policy also includes administrative responsibility for the subordinate institutions, the National Insurance Appeals Court and the new Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service (NAV). Together with the Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Ministry has administrative responsibility for the Directorate of Heath and Social Welfare and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
