LSAP MP and former Minister of Labour Georges Engel has pushed back against recent comments made by his CSV successor Georges Mischo on RTL last week.
Speaking in an RTL interview on Monday morning, Engel said the opposition had reacted with laughter to Mischo’s remarks and suggested that even the CSV itself was embarrassed by what had been said. In Engel’s view, it was not good style for Mischo to blame others for the difficulties he faced as labour minister, including trade unions, the press, and civil servants.
While Engel acknowledged that the role of Minister of Labour is particularly demanding and requires constant compromise, he said Mischo appeared unsure of his political direction. He suggested that Mischo may have been too naïve and insufficiently critical of the coalition agreement.
Engel also commented on expectations surrounding Mischo’s successor. With former trade unionist Marc Spautz taking over the labour portfolio, there is hope that social dialogue will get back on track. However, Engel warned that Spautz will also have to implement a coalition programme he helped draft.
“Marc Spautz cannot now stand aside as a free agent and say he has nothing to do with this coalition agreement”, Engel said, adding that the new minister’s task would therefore not be an easy one.
One of the major challenges ahead will be the implementation of the EU directive on the minimum wage. According to Engel, the directive offers two possible reference points: either the average wage or the median wage. The LSAP is clearly in favour of adjusting the minimum wage based on the median wage, which would result in an increase of around €200.
To take employers’ concerns into account and avoid placing them under immediate pressure, Engel suggested a gradual approach. “The minimum wage could be increased by €100 straight away and then adjusted by a further €100 at a later stage”, he said.
Mischo’s comments came during a studio appearance last Thursday, where the former minister spoke openly about what he described as sustained personal attacks against him, urging that the ‘Mischo-bashing’ should stop.
The CSV politician stepped down as Minister of Labour and Sports more than a month ago and is due to return to the Chamber of Deputies next week as an MP. He said he was looking ahead and that one should always “get up again after a fall”.
He also described much of the political controversy surrounding him in recent months as “over the top”. As an example, Mischo pointed to a letter from the trade unions questioning his suitability for the role. He described the letter as “cowardly, infected, and undignified”, claiming it contained accusations that were blatantly untrue. He also criticised the OGBL and LCGB unions for not raising these concerns directly with him.
Criticism was also voiced on RTL by LSAP party manager Ben Streff, who said the socialist parliamentary group lacked sufficient presence on the ground. Engel said such criticism would have been better addressed internally rather than publicly, while adding that it was important for problems to be raised.
“More presence on the ground is always welcome”, Engel said, “but we also need people in the parliamentary group who work on the files”.
