Oljefond chief faces criticism for posting comparative factory work data

Nicolai Tangen, head of Norway's sovereign wealth fund, posted a LinkedIn graphic that compared work hours, sick-leave levels and vehicle output per employee at Volkswagen sites in Germany, Portugal and China. The figure showed substantially more effective work hours in China than in Germany, and noted variations in absenteeism. The post generated significant online engagement and drew sharp criticism from MP Oda Indgaard, who argued that a fund manager should champion workers' rights and environmental standards rather than appear to admire Chinese production models.

In reply, Tangen said the purpose was to highlight the competitive cost and productivity challenges European manufacturers face, emphasizing that the fund maintains expectations regarding labour and human-rights standards in its investments. He stressed that the data was not a recommendation for adopting Chinese working conditions and affirmed the value of European labour standards.