Norwegian interpreters refuse court assignments in pay dispute

Interpreters across Norway are refusing assignments in the justice sector this week in protest against sharp pay cuts, Dagbladet reports. The boycott threatens to disrupt legal proceedings, police interrogations, and detention hearings involving non-Norwegian speakers.

Since December, members of the Norwegian Interpreters’ Association have demanded the restoration of previous fee levels after the Ministry of Justice and Public Security slashed rates by up to 30% from January 1, 2026. The new rates—reduced from four-fifths to two-thirds of the standard public sector fee—have left many interpreters unable to sustain their livelihoods, according to the association.

“The reality is that the Ministry of Justice cut our fees by up to 30% with the stroke of a pen,” said Joanna Godlewska, one of the association’s founders. She confirmed that most members are participating in the boycott, with even non-member certified interpreters signalling support. “This week, all are declining justice sector assignments.”

Statistics Norway data shows interpreters earned an average of 660,000 Norwegian kroner (approx. €58,000) in 2024. The pay cut, critics argue, now makes the profession financially unsustainable while undermining legal safeguards for non-Norwegian speakers.

Government defends “difficult prioritisation”

State Secretary Gunn Karin Gjul of the Ministry of Justice acknowledged the role of interpreters but emphasised budget constraints. “Responsible economic management requires tough prioritisation,” Gjul told Dagbladet, noting that interpreter fees had previously exceeded rates in other public sectors.

“The Storting [Norway’s parliament] has approved the 2026 budget, and the fee regulation has been amended accordingly,” she said, adding that the ministry believes assignments remain “attractive” due to their typically longer duration compared to other public sector interpreting work.

The ministry has established a committee to review remuneration for lawyers, expert witnesses, and interpreters in public assignments. Meanwhile, the association warns of escalating action if demands are not met.

Godlewska rejected suggestions the boycott amounts to sabotage: “We are demonstrating that interpreters are essential to upholding the rule of law.”