On Monday, the joint trade union front of the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) and the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) sent a new letter to Prime Minister Luc Frieden, with copies to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour. The letter is titled ‘Work and Employment – Unresolved National and European Issues’.
In the letter, dated Monday and reviewed by RTL, the unions criticise what they describe as two largely wasted years, and call for renewed progress on several key employment-related files. Nora Back, co-president of the union front, stressed that the unions are not opposed to modernising labour law, contrary to what she said is a frequent portrayal of them as backwards.
At the national level, the unions are calling for stronger tools to support workers in remaining in employment. They are also demanding a reform of redeployment legislation – which applies when an employee can no longer perform their job in the same capacity for health reasons – as well as a regulatory framework for the introduction of artificial intelligence in the workplace. According to co-president Patrick Dury, negotiations on the first two points had already begun under the previous government.
On the European front, the unions are advocating for the continued upward adjustment of the minimum social wage, the transposition of the EU directive on platform workers, and the implementation of the directive on pay transparency. Back noted that while many other topics could have been included, the unions chose to keep the letter concise. Dury added that it is meant to serve as a reminder that these issues must not be overlooked.
Asked whether new Minister of Labour Marc Spautz should not first be given time to settle in, Dury replied: “Of course he will be given a chance. We have highlighted subjects that are important to us.” He saw nothing unusual in communicating with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour in this way. Back echoed this view, stating: “The letter is not aimed against the Minister of Labour. We are in constant discussion with him.” However, she added: “With this government, we have learned that it is better to put what we want on the table in black and white.”
At the same time, both co-presidents clarified that it is not their intention to send a letter to the Prime Minister every week.
A new meeting with Minister Spautz is scheduled for the week following the Carnival holidays, this time focused on the platform economy.
