Kersch, also the Minister for Labour, was responding to a session called by the CSV in the Chamber of Deputies, during which the opposition party criticised delays for businesses in receiving part-time unemployment benefit.
The LSAP Minister as well as Marc Baum from Déi Lénk underlined that those affected were in a very difficult situation and often had to take a big wage cut.
Marc Spautz from the CSV pointed out that he was most worried about small businesses, some of which were still waiting for their pay-outs:
"They are still waiting for those from July, August and September. I am only quoting what the email says. There was also a letter, asking how it was possible that businesses had applied for this and are still waiting, which the minister replied to and the ombudswoman reacted to."
The Minister of Labour Dan Kersch made clear that it does not take longer than six weeks to be paid out:
"I have made a commitment to the Horesca and events sector to check every single case with a delay exceeding this time frame. We quickly discovered that statements are not coming in."
Marc Spautz also suggested extending part time unemployment to those doing apprenticeships, but this was turned down by Dan Kersch:
"They should be allowed to continue their apprenticeship, even if large parts of a business are taking part-time unemployment."
Marc Baum from Déi Lénk was concerned that the people affected by these measures were getting a raw deal:
"Of course it is laudable to keep them in work. But I would like to remind everyone that these people are in a very difficult position. They are getting little support, they still have a formal link to their job, but it is clear that their employment is in jeopardy."
Marc Baum further underlined that the government had taken important and useful measures, but was lacking a clear plan to relaunch and transform the economy and employment, according to Déi Lénk.
