Paulette Lenert, vice-president of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) parliamentary group, spoke with our colleagues from RTL Radio on Tuesday morning. She accused coalition parties CSV and DP of fuelling trade union “discontent” through poor communication and unequal treatment during labour policy discussions.
Lenert claimed the government had “somewhat provoked” current tensions by failing to engage unions as equal partners, particularly regarding pension reforms and proposed changes to collective bargaining agreements. While Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Minister of Labour Georges Mischo recently guaranteed unions’ exclusive right to negotiate collective agreements, Lenert stressed the coalition still seeks to alter agreement contents.
The former minister praised the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) and the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) for “vigorously defending workers’ rights”, as they sharply criticised the government during May Day events attended by Frieden and Mischo. “We can discuss the tone”, Lenert remarked, “but we must also be able to withstand personal attacks or criticism of a compromise.”
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Lenert emphasised her party’s support for expanding sector-wide agreements, citing their role in maintaining Luxembourg’s labour market attractiveness. The former minister cited the example of the hospitality sector, which struggles with staff shortages, and where the collective agreement allows, among other things, Sunday hours to be unpaid. Lenert is convinced that if employers and unions were to sit down together, solutions could be found.
While describing LCGB president Patrick Dury’s “social apartheid” remark as “a little harsh”, Lenert concurred that the CSV and DP treat private sector employees differently to those in the civil service.
Lenert reiterated her party’s position that Luxembourg’s “electoral law contains multiple democratic deficits”, advocating for renewed debate on voting rights for non-Luxembourg residents. She emphasised any reform would require a referendum, suggesting transitional measures like consultative forums for non-voters could serve as “intermediate steps.”
The former minister identified housing as the root cause of worsening inequality, noting that even employed workers now face poverty due to soaring costs. Lenert stated that “everyone agrees” that past governments failed to anticipate growth through strategic investments.
She proposed a multi-pronged approach including a public construction offensive to increase supply, the development of new regulatory frameworks for housing cooperatives, and the creation of public investment funds allowing resident participation.
