On Saturday, our colleagues from RTL Radio discussed the minimum wage debate with Minister of Labour Marc Spautz.
“I thought I would succeed in getting the social partners to sit around the same table. It is a difficult back-and-forth, and with three parties it would be much easier to work together constructively,” Spautz said.
The main topic was the government’s announcement on Friday that, aside from automatic adjustments, there would be no structural increase to the minimum wage. The minister from the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) explained that the timing was not right for such a measure: the economy could not have sustained an 11% increase, as demanded by the trade unions, and the geopolitical situation makes future developments uncertain.
A former trade unionist himself, Spautz emphasised that he had made decisions in the spirit of social dialogue. He clarified that, had the situation allowed it, he would also have welcomed a larger increase. However, he noted that a middle ground had been found between the demands of employers and trade unions with the 6.3% rise. Spautz stated that he stands behind the coalition agreement and stressed that the government is not purely pro-employer.
Another topic discussed was the organisation of working time. On this subject, Spautz explained that working time regulations should be adapted to today’s realities. He argued that employment law must create options to give businesses the necessary flexibility. A consultation debate is scheduled to take place in the Chamber of Deputies before the summer holidays, after which the intention is to discuss the drafted proposals with the social partners.
Finally, Spautz affirmed that his party, the CSV, stands behind Prime Minister Luc Frieden. Referencing the fact that Frieden lost a significant number of votes during his re-election as party president, Spautz argued that the recent results at the party congress should not be overestimated, as they merely represented “a snapshot in time.”
