Several unions recently joined forces to criticise the government for failing to ensure that long-term substitute teachers are awarded adequate employment contracts.
At a press conference on Wednesday, the Syndicate for Education and Science (SEW), which falls under the tutelage of the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL), accused the Ministry Education, Children and Youth of not adhering to labour laws. The main point of criticism is that long-term substitute teachers are frequently given subsequent fixed-term employment contracts (CDDs) rather than permanent employment contracts (CDIs).
According to Isabelle Bichler, president of the SEW's committee of substitutes, this leaves them in a "precarious" situation without any real prospect for a CDI. This can also affect people initially chosen as short-term substitutes and that may end up working under the same conditions for 20 years.
Another point of criticism is that salaries tend to be delayed by up to fourth months. Luc Wildanger, president of the Association of Substitute Teachers (ACEN), further noted that CDDs are often given up to, but not including school holidays. He alleged that in some cases, new teachers are even put in front of a class without a contract.
In this context, the SEW says that contracts for so-called 'external experts' tend to be misused when they are actually meant for external contributors rather than substitute teachers. Wildanger noted that their wages have not been updated for years and also fail to cover health insurance.
A request for a meeting with Education Minister Claude Meisch has so far remained unanswered.
