Equal opportunities in Kristiansand

Ten years ago a national index on the level of gender equality in Norwegian councils revealed that Kristiansand Council's score was very poor. Consequently, directed by senior political and administrative leaders, the council started to improve equal opportunities and in 2003 the council adopted the strategy that embodied the council's important roles: in the political arena, as an employer, a service provider and as the region's largest council. Political parties were encouraged to recruit more women and to nominate them for safe seats. The council refunds child care expenses for politicians attending political meetings. Today the aim of each sex being represented by a minimum of 40% on political bodies has almost been achieved.

Kristiansand's regional project, "Free Choice" promotes equal opportunities for children in schools and kindergartens, so that when they choose their occupation, it will depend more on their interests than on gender and tradition. Perhaps it is never too early to achieve equal opportunities

With 6,000 employees, Kristiansand Council is the largest regional employer. More than two thirds of the staff are women who mostly work in the care sector, but the council is working on recruiting more men into this area. Another aim is to achieve a better ratio between the number of women managers and women workers. Kristiansand Council has implemented several measures to make the home-work balance easier for council employees with, for example, flexi-time, leave of absence and home office solutions. In Norway parents have almost a year's paid leave after the birth of their child, which can be extended for a year or two with unpaid leave. For children under 12 benefits extend to a paid leave when looking after sick children and accompanying children to new kindergartens and schools. However, part time work is very widespread among female employees, although it means lower wages, reduces career possibilities and a lower old age pension. The challenge is that very few fathers reduce their work time, and many part time women employees want full time positions. Several projects aim to increase the possibilities of women working full time. In 2009 Kristiansand moved into the top 25% of Norwegian councils for equal opportunities.