Risk of child poverty is 'too high' in Luxembourg

Despite its standing among the wealthiest countries in Europe in many respects, the risk of children falling below the poverty line in Luxembourg is above the EU average, according to the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR). The committee published its 'Conclusions 2023' in respect of the Articles of the European Social Charter relating to Children, Family and Migrants.

The European Social Charter is a Council of Europe treaty that guarantees fundamental social and economic rights, including a broad range of everyday human rights related to employment, housing, health, education, social protection and welfare.

Falling Short

The publication drew on statistics from EUROSTAT which highlighted that in 2021, 29.4% of children in Luxembourg were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, while in 2018 the percentage was 23.4% The report noted that this percentage is higher than the EU average (24.4% in 2021) and considered the rate of children at risk of poverty in Luxembourg as being too high.

Not long ago, UNICEF had described the situation in Luxembourg as 'a time bomb' demanding immediate attention.

The report found that, despite doing well in many areas, Luxembourg is falling short in some of its obligations concerning the protection of children, families and migrants.

The ECSR came to several conclusions of non-conformity, including the fact that in the prison service children may be detained with adults.

The report found that children are “detained at the Luxembourg Prison without strict separation from adult detainees, in poor material conditions. The Committee recalls that minors should never be detained with adults (Conclusions 2019, Belgium) and finds the situation in Luxembourg not to be in conformity in this respect.”

Also highlighted in the document is the fact that Luxembourg has a way to go to improve young workers’ wages, described as “not fair” and apprentices’ allowances as being “not appropriate”. This is because they are calculated on the basis of the minimum wage paid to adults, which is considered insufficient to ensure a decent standard of living, the report states, the report continued.

Concerning the rights of children and young persons to protection as outlined by the Charter, the report found that in Luxembourg children who are still subject to compulsory education are not guaranteed an uninterrupted rest period of at least two weeks during the summer holidays.

The Charter states that the duration of light work that children, who are over 15 years of age but are still in compulsory education, undertake is not excessive, so that they are not deprived of the full benefit of their education.

Children who are still subject to compulsory schooling can carry out light work for two hours on a school day and 12 hours a week outside the hours fixed for school attendance. They should not carry out light work for an excessive duration, either during school holidays or during the school term. Luxembourg was found was found to be in violation of a provision of the Charter by not guaranteeing two consecutive weeks of rest during school holidays.

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Family Rights

The Grand Duchy was praised for its positive developments in the area of “Family Rights”.

“Wider access to nurseries was introduced in Luxembourg, with 20 hours per week of free childcare per child, regardless of parental income. In line with this measure, childcare in non-formal education facilities was also made free of charge during the school week for children in primary education (i.e. children from the age of four). This applies to childcare facilities, after-school care and childminders,” the report noted.

The report also states that in October 2022, 31,970 children from 0 to five years residing in Luxembourg were enrolled in childcare (including certified public childcare services, private service providers and childminders), i.e. 78% of the total number of children in this age group. In certified childcare facilities, parents paid an average of €18 per child per week.