A court in St. Paul ruled Wednesday that the Norwegian government violated Minnesota’s discrimination and equal-pay laws by paying a female former employee 200, 000 NOK less than a male employee, though their jobs were comparable, writes the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Norway will pay Ellen Ewald around 1.3 million NOK in damages and around 750,000 NOK for the emotional strain she experienced after she did not get the salary increase.
– I am pleased that the judge believes that everyone, big or small, must follow the law. Even foreign countries must pay equal wages for equal work, says Ewald lawyer to the local newspaper.
According to the lawyer, Norwegian authorities may have to pay much more considering the legal fees, the cost of four lawyers and interest.