Around 100 years ago, the foundations for the modern Chamber of Employees (CSL) were laid, the members of which are chosen in Luxembourg’s social elections. On 12 March, the largest elections in the Grand Duchy will thus take place, with 600,000 employees eligible to vote.
In April 1924, the Chamber of Private-Sector Employees and the Chamber of Labour were founded. The role of these bodies was to propose laws to parliament or give opinions on proposed legislation.
In the beginning, only workers with Luxembourgish nationality were allowed to vote. However, in the 1980s, non-Luxembourgish residents and cross-border workers demanded that the right to vote in social elections be extended to them as well.
They argued that they contribute to social contributions as well, explains Estelle Berthereau, a researcher at the University of Luxembourg, in conversation with RTL. They were backed by organisations such as the Association for the Support of Immigrant Workers (ASTI) or the Association of Belgian workers.
Finally in 1993, non-Luxembourgish residents and cross-border workers were granted the right to vote in social elections. However, “voter turnout was relatively low compared to the early days of the Chambers”, emphasises Estelle Berthereau. This was arguably due to the changing economic landscape of the country, with the steel industry, for example, progressively seeing a decline in importance.
16 years ago, on 13 May 2008, a draft bill was introduced in parliament to merge the Chamber of Private-Sector Employees and the Chamber of Labour to form what is today known as the Chamber of Employees. This was primarily intended to introduce a unified statute and to address inequalities in the two professional groups.
In the social elections, which take place every five years, all current and former private sector workers are eligible to vote. 60 union representatives are elected to the Chamber, which is divided into nine professional groups. These include a group for the iron and steel sector, other industries, construction, finance, other services, public administrations and enterprises, healthcare and social services, the national railway company, and the pension sector.
This year’s elections mark a historic first as, for the first time, employees from the age of 16 and unemployed individuals receiving benefits in the country can also participate in the elections.
