Georges Engel slams government's labour policies, says FLF apology is 'not enough'

Former LSAP Labour and Sports Minister Georges Engel delivered a scathing assessment of the current government's performance during a Tuesday morning interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio, accusing the coalition of producing "one mess after another" through what he characterised as a flawed legislative process.

Engel specifically targeted three contentious policy areas: the ongoing pension reform debate, Sunday work regulations, and retail opening hour liberalisation. His comments followed last week's critical evaluations of these proposals by the Council of State, which described the Sunday work bill as representing a "regression" in labour rights. The proposed legislation, introduced by CSV Labour Minister Georges Mischo, would double permitted Sunday working hours from four to eight.

In Engel's view, the government's approach is backwards: "They launch proposals first and discuss them later within the coalition." He emphasised that while coalition disagreements are normal, proper internal debate should precede public release of draft legislation.

A step back in terms of social policy

Engel expressed particular concern about the Sunday work proposal's potential consequences, warning it would undermine existing collective bargaining agreements and disrupt work-life balance in sports, culture, and family life. He argued the legislation sets a dangerous precedent for labour rights erosion, noting the Council of State's unusually strong criticism. Engel remarked that if he had ever received a similar assessment from the Council of State, he would have reconsidered his direction, suggesting the current administration appears more focused on accommodating employer demands than protecting workers.

The former minister accused the government of "punishing workers who seek additional income" while systematically weakening Luxembourg's collective bargaining framework.

A fundamental regression

The Council of State issued three formal objections to Economy Minister Lex Delles' bill liberalising retail opening hours. While Engel acknowledged Delles will likely amend the proposal, he criticised this pattern of policymaking: "The government publishes bills without internal discussion, then retreats when challenged. This reactive approach undermines effective governance."

"Football's reputation is being damaged"

As former sports minister, Engel turned his criticism to the Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF), calling for deeper institutional reflection beyond their recent public apology following protests at Friday's match. "The administrative council must fundamentally reassess its approach - both in communication and decision-making," Engel stated.

Read also: Luxembourg Football Federation apologises, launches ethics probe after Rodrigues controversy

He condemned the selection of Gerson Rodrigues, recently convicted of assault and domestic violence, as "a slap in the face to those affected by domestic violence," stressing "it should never have happened." Engel also denounced the FLF's exclusion of a sports journalist from a press briefing as "completely unacceptable."