Itinera disqualified from Norwegian road project amid labor violations in Denmark

Recent issues of underpayment, violation of agreements, and falsified time sheets in Danish construction projects have led to the Italian construction company Itinera’s disqualification from a major road project in Norway. The Norwegian authorities made this decision based on Itinera’s prior record in Denmark, where they are currently involved in significant infrastructure projects, including the Storstrøm Bridge, the New OUH, and the University Hospital in Køge.

Itinera is contesting the ruling from an Oslo court issued on October 1, which upheld the Norwegian Road Administration’s stance that the company’s conduct in Denmark warranted exclusion from the contract. Despite Itinera appealing the decision, the Road Administration has opted to proceed with the project without delay, dismissing any requests to pause procurement processes while the appeal is underway. Kjell Inge Davik, the agency’s Director of Expansion, stated that the process has advanced too far to reconsider the disqualification.

During the court proceedings, the Road Administration presented evidence of ongoing underpayment issues affecting workers on Danish sites, while Itinera claimed these problems originated with subcontractors. The court found repeated and serious breaches of labor conditions, noting instances of falsified time sheets and unpaid wages.

As a result, Itinera’s bid for the billion-kroner project on a 21.5-kilometer stretch of the E6 in northern Norway was rejected, with contracts expected to be awarded in early 2025. Despite some historical incidents, the most recent issues reported involve ongoing compliance problems with subcontractors. Itinera is currently preparing a response to these developments.