A ‘politically motivated choice’, criticises Dan Biancalana

ADEM announced a press conference for Friday morning dedicated to the reorganisation of their agencies, where they also took the opportunity to announce that their agency in Dudelange will close permanently on 30 November.

Around 1,500 jobseekers will be impacted by the closure. The agency has been looking for an appropriate solution since 2021, but this search has ultimately been unsuccessful, explains Labour Minister George Mischo.

“Various buildings were discussed. The old post office building unfortunately did not conform to the safety regulations needed to open an ADEM agency. There was also talk about a supermarket which had moved. However, that wasn’t a solution either. Thus we had to admit that ‘for good or for bad’ it was not working anymore. As the minister I made the decision to announce we were closing the Dudelange agency. And we will distribute jobseekers to Esch Bell and Hamm.

Mayor of Dudelange Dan Biancalanca is not happy at all that such an important service is vanishing from his municipality. Specifically because he has always emphasised how crucial it is to decentralise offices. A large segment of the 1,500 unemployed people now in the Dudelange catchment area will now need to drive to Hamm. It was not a good day for Dudelange, nor for the residents of neighbouring villages like Bettembourg, Frisange and Roeser, who also utilise the agency in Dudelange.

“I have noticed that 13 years ago, a socialist labour minister, Nicolas Schmit, opened a regional satellite. And I recognise that 13 years later, a Christian-Socialist, a CSV labour minister closes a regional satellite.”

To the question whether Dan Biancalanca believes it was a politically-motivated choice, he answers: “If you read it that way, I come to the conclusion that, here, I believe there could have been other possibilities. It is beyond me why it didn’t work out.”

Another suggestion from the Dudelange side was to integrate the ADEM office into the project 'Nei Schmelz'. ADEM claimed they had thought of that, but sooner or later the agency would remain closed in Dudelange. The project 'Nei Schmelz' should be finished in 10 years’ time.

Critique of Labour minister’s communication

Another point of contention for the Mayor of Dudelange is reportedly the CSV labour minister’s communication of the situation.

The invitation for ADEM’s press conference was announced on Thursday 11.30am. Dan Biancalana only received the news from Georges Mischo that the office would be closing at 6.30pm.

In addition, Dudelange, Roeser, and Frisange sent letters to the labour minister in April and May, standing up for the preservation of the Dudelange seat. That was comical, comments Mr Biancalana.

Further announcements by ADEM

ADEM still has three big agencies: Luxembourg City, Esch and Diekirch, as well as three regional agencies in Differdange, Wiltz and Wasserbillig. The labour minister communicated that by the end of 2026 all employees of the Diekirch office will be moved to an office at the municipality's former retirement home, in order to tear down and reconstruct their current building. Lastly, the agency in Differdange is meant to move to a new building at the beginning of 2025, according to Georges Mischo.