The topic of the debate was Luxembourg’s strategy in the fight against Covid-19. For the past weeks and even months, the CSV has demanded that the government should introduce a step-by-step plan or a long-term strategy in order to give business and the general public more predictability. Deputy PM Kersch dismissed the idea, pointing out that Ireland had a step-by-step plan but was forced to abandon it completely. There were too many unpredictable factors, the minister explained, currently also due to the spread of mutations of the virus. Kersch stressed that in Luxembourg, the government is not giving people any false hopes.
Regarding aids for self-employed workers and the recent criticism by the Young Artisan Federation, Kersch stated that he himself is the only one who had presented a potential solution to the problem. The minister’s idea involves a sort of mutual fund through which businesses could support each other according to the principle of solidarity with additional aid provided by the state. Kersch stated that he is open to discuss the idea, adding that every case needs to be considered individually, of course.
On the topic of the Horesca sector, Kersch stated that a lot of restaurants and cafés are well organised and receive assistance from the Horesca federation when applying for state aids. However, some are struggling to properly hand in their applications and the government needs to do more to reach them as well, the Deputy PM acknowledged. While he understands that the biggest help for the Horesca businesses would be to know the date of their re-opening, the minister stressed that the government give any guarantees in that regard. Martine Hansen countered that even if nothing can be guaranteed, the government should still give these businesses some sort of perspective.
When asked about telework, Kersch stated that, to his knowledge, only a very small number of employers refused to grant telework to their employees, when the latter asked for it. On the other hand, many employees actually want to stop working from home. Kersch clarified that even if the Covid-19 law does not stipulate anything in regard to telework, the employer has an obligation to do everything in his power to ensure the well-being of his employees and that includes switching to telework, whenever possible.
In regard to the vaccination campaign, Hansen stated that her party welcomed the fact that the government decided to keep the second dose. However, the CSV believes that it is important to give the population some hope for the future and thus, the government should release a rough schedule and order indicating when certain parts of the population can expect to receive their vaccine. Kersch rejected the idea, stating that this is impossible as it is not known when the different doses of the vaccines will be delivered.
The Deputy PM added that he does not understand the CSV’s strategy, as cooperation generally works well within the parliamentary commissions and some of the opposition’s ideas are included in the draft bills, but then suddenly during plenary sessions, the CSV criticises nearly everything. Hansen countered the criticism by pointing out that the majority parties generally rejected the CSV’s motions during plenary sessions.
