Faroese labour agency calls for stricter enforcement of municipal procurement rules

The Faroese Labour Market Authority (Vinnuhúsið) has demanded tighter controls on public procurement in local municipalities after a review found that one-third of tender applicants reported experiencing unfair treatment, public broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya reports.

Niels Winther, director of Vinnuhúsið, described the findings as a clear signal that competition for municipal contracts must be strengthened. The authority’s comments follow a report by the Competition Supervisory Board (Kappingareftirlitið), which examined bidding processes in Faroese municipalities.

The review revealed that between 60 and 70 percent of applicants believe personal connections with municipal employees influence contract awards. Winther emphasised that such perceptions undermine trust in public procurement and called for immediate corrective measures.