© Marc Hoscheid
Talks between the government, trade unions, and employers occurred in a bipartite format on Tuesday to discuss labour organisation and reference periods, but no concrete progress was made, with all sides only presenting their proposals and agreeing to continue dialogue.
According to the government, the meetings, which lasted over four hours in total, focused primarily on labour organisation and reference periods, key points of contention between unions and employers.
After previous negotiations in July and September failed to produce an agreement, and with unions announcing their withdrawal from the Standing Committee on Labour and Employment (CPTE), talks are now continuing on a bipartite basis.
Before the session, representatives of the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) and the civil servants' federation (CGFP) appeared in good spirits, while the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) had already arrived at the Ministry of Labour. The discussions with Labour Minister Georges Mischo and Minister for the Economy Lex Delles began around 2pm and lasted nearly two hours.
After the meeting, OGBL president Nora Back expressed clear disappointment, noting that the discussions had been purely introductory. According to her, the unions merely outlined their proposals and demands on working time, but received no indication of the government's intentions. She said the ministers had listened carefully, but no answers were provided regarding the government's position on the matter.
LCGB president Patrick Dury stressed that his organisation would not accept any deterioration of workers' rights. On the contrary, he said, the union would continue to push for improvements, such as shorter working hours or additional leave.
From 4pm until after 6pm, it was the employers' turn to present their ideas. The meeting followed a similar format. Michel Reckinger, president of the Luxembourg Employers' Association (UEL), described the session in more nuanced terms, saying that the discussions should not be seen as a step backward but rather as a way of doing things differently to make them work more effectively. He argued that maintaining the status quo would lead nowhere and that changes were necessary for progress.
At the end of more than four hours of discussions, one lingering question remained: why was it necessary for unions and employers to once again present their well-known positions to the government, after the same issues had already been debated during earlier social rounds?
Labour Minister Georges Mischo replied that he wanted to hear the partners' current views directly and have them formally recorded.
All sides ultimately welcomed the fact that dialogue had resumed after months of tension. The next bipartite meeting is scheduled for 19 November, with two additional sessions planned for early next year. The goal is to reach tangible results by March or April 2026.
