Members of the opposition expressed their hopes in the run-up to the third round of talks between the government, trade unions and employers next week.

Next Wednesday, members of the government will meet trade union representatives and the employers' association to strike a deal over opening hours, Sunday commerce, and pension reforms. Members of the opposition have shared their expectations of the upcoming talks.

LSAP: government should backtrack over retirement age

LSAP fraction leader Taina Bofferding warned in an interview with RTL on Friday that the government should not push ahead with their proposal to extend working life, as it was a measure no one wanted. She said there must be alternatives to secure pensions.

After the "chaos" of the last few months, Bofferding called for "clarity". She said she was optimistic that the talks could result in a deal. But even if the employers and trade unions differ so much in their positions? "Well, it has been said that everything is up for discussion, so everything should be discussed," she said. "It doesn't help to enter a round of talks with positions from which you cannot reach a consensus."

ADR: It is not just up to employers and employees; the government must make an effort

ADR MP Tom Weidig hopes that the disagreements between the employers and the trade unions can be resolved. However, he said above all he wants to know what the government actually wants, particularly in terms of pensions. He indicated his own party's "clear" position but said on Friday it was not just up to employers and employees to pay the price. The government should also make an effort to redirect expenses considered pointless by the ADR, such as solar energy grants, equal opportunities or the Luxembourg Film Fund, into the pensions system.

"Our issue is of course that as an opposition party in the Chamber, we are not part of the negotiation process, so it's important the government keeps us informed," he said.

The Greens: moving forward in a difficult situation

Green MP Sam Tanson said she doesn't know what the government wants, and suspects the government itself doesn't know what it wants. "For us it's important there is peace in the social discussions, that the unions are respected again and that there is a real attempt to find a compromise," she said. Any solution could not just benefit one of the three negotiators, as it should be about moving the country forward.

She noted that "a lot of people" have expressed their opposition to the CSV-DP policies, and that the international situation and economic development are also "complicated".

The Left: new proposals still not employee-friendly

Marc Baum, MP for The Left, agreed that the government had caused "chaos" over the last few months, and said he hopes it will stop doing so and instead make policies for people who work.

However, the government is no longer committed to collective agreements and has watered down its proposals on Sunday work, opening hours and pensions. When asked about this, Baum said these proposals were "100% employer-friendly".

The fact they are withdrawing some proposals does not mean they are employee-friendly", he said. He also pointed out that Sunday hours and opening hours in retail and the working hours for life – under very different parameters – should still be extended.

Pirate Party: CSV and DP should be better organized

Pirate MP Sven Clement said he hopes the government will be better organized this time than during the July social talks, when CSV and DP had to confer several times. He also criticised the prime minister for putting pressure on the process by saying he wanted the talks wrapped up by Wednesday.

According to Clement, one of the conditions for reaching a compromise between two opposing positions is to allow enough time to "understand positions, analyse positions, and then work out compromise proposals." Another condition, in his view, is that the government itself should have a position and not take sides, as was the case before the first round of social talks.

In summary, the opposition concluded they would wait and see what next week's discussions will bring. Afterwards, the various parties could come to decisions, make proposals or advise on compromises.