RTL Today - 'Fake meeting': Employers' representatives decide not to attend government presentation on reduced work hours

The Luxembourg Employers' Association (UEL) has decided not to attend a government presentation on work-time reduction for fears that relevant decisions have already been taken beforehand, which will prevent underlying discussions on the matter from taking place.

The Permanent Work and Employment Committee (CPTE) will convene on Tuesday for a presentation on the potential reduction of work hours. The analysis in question was carried out by the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Ecnonomic Research (LISER) and will be presented by Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy Georges Engel.

However, employers' representatives from the UEL have decided not to attend the event, which they have since labelled a "fake meeting" that prevents an underlying discussion from taking place, particularly since Minister Engel is expected to address the press right afterwards.

A respective statement from the UEL further argues that the CPTE meeting has not been prepared in serious manner and that their members have only been convened four days prior. This would show that the event is only a formality and that social partners will have no part in the decision-making process.

Patrick Dury, president of the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB), said on Monday in an RTL interview that reducing work hours is already common practice for many employers and that further analyses of the situation are redundant. The UEL shares this position and argues that Minister Engel's approach is a sign for a failed social dialogue.

Another point of criticism shared by both unions and employers is that Minister Engel allegedly shared the results of the study with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) ahead of the meeting.