Social dialogue has 'deteriorated even further' during the pandemic, says Nora Back

Back stated that the social dialogue has "deteriorated even further" since the start of the pandemic. In the eyes of the OGBL president, a tripartite is a textbook example of crisis management, but "in order to discuss solutions, people must come together". The last meeting of the tripartite was in July 2020.

Usually, Back added, employers are the ones who try to avoid these meetings, but this time it is the government.

The OGBL president demands that a "social path" out of the crisis be found. The interests of working people must be respected, she stressed. Social inequalities must not be allowed to increase any further, but, according to Back, the government has not done enough to prevent that from happening.

Back stated that she is in favour of redistribution and illustrated this with a number of fiscal policy demands. Taxes on incomes need to be decreased, while the tax on capital needs to be increased. After all, Luxembourg takes the top spot in Europe regarding people living in poverty despite having a job, Back pointed out. The situation is similarly bad for single parents.

Communication regarding the distribution of rapid tests to companies worked well between Minister of Labour Dan Kersch and the OBGL, Back acknowledged. The trade union and the ministry are currently still working out a number of organisational questions.

Back stressed that this could only work if all parties involved worked together, including the companies' personnel delegations. A secondary goal is to prevent employees being "indirectly pressured" to take the tests. They should remain voluntary, Back stated.

The celebration of work and cultures in the Neimënster Abbey is once again cancelled due to the pandemic. This is why the OGBL has decided to revive another tradition: a protest through Esch-sur-Alzette and a May Day speech. Back stressed that the entire event will take place in compliance with the sanitary regulations currently in force.