On Friday, the Chamber of Deputies will vote on the new Armed Forces Bill, which has elicited contrasting reactions from different factions.

Prior to the vote, the General Confederation of the Civil Service (CGFP) expressed criticism regarding the new evaluation system.

However, the draft bill has found support among officers. The Professional Association of Luxembourg Officers (APOL) accuses the CGFP of one-sided communication. The APOL contends that the evaluation system, deemed essential in armies worldwide, provides valuable insights into the competencies of personnel, particularly vital in the often dangerous environment of the military.

According to the APOL, the assessment is intended to ensure individuals are assigned to roles according to their skill sets and is independent of soldiers' salaries, which are separate from civilian grades. The evaluation system does not aim to covertly penalise "difficult" members of the military, the APOL stresses.

On the matter of communication, the APOL maintains that their opinions were sought beforehand, but overlooked afterward. They advocate for their views to be recognised as equally valid within the umbrella organization, alongside those of other military personnel.

This is not the first instance of disagreement between the APOL and the CGFP, with past disputes also arising over the labour agreement. Despite these differences among the trade unions, the new armed forces bill is expected to be approved by MPs on Friday afternoon.