On Saturday, Minister of Health and Social Security Martine Deprez spoke with our colleagues from RTL Radio, offering limited details about two key government initiatives: ongoing labour negotiations with social partners and the proposed pension reform announced by Prime Minister Luc Frieden.
The Prime Minister’s unexpected mention of a pension reform proposal during his State of the Nation Address had raised questions, but Minister Deprez emphasised that the entire government – including members of the Democratic Party (DP) – had been briefed beforehand. She suggested some statements may have been “misunderstood” or “misinterpreted,” clarifying that the proposal was merely “one option among many” and remained open for discussion.
Deprez confirmed that all social partners’ proposals are now under review, with multiple models requiring further analysis. “No proposal is off the table at this stage,” she stated, though she declined to elaborate due to the sensitivity of ongoing negotiations. Talks, currently paused for summer recess, will resume on 3 September.
When asked whether MPs had received private briefings on the labour discussions, the minister denied knowledge of such meetings, adding she had neither attended nor been informed of them.
Despite recent tensions, Deprez described the coalition between the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) and DP as “very good,” dismissing concerns about rifts between the two parties.
Shifting to healthcare, she acknowledged financial pressures at the National Health Fund (CNS), citing inefficiencies like double-payments. Austerity measures are under consideration, with plans to be finalised over summer.
By autumn, a quadripartite committee – including government, healthcare unions, employers, and provider representatives – will convene to draft a roadmap for stabilising the CNS by 2027.
