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OGBL and ULL join forces to protect delivery riders amid 'modern-day slavery' concerns

The Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) and the Luxembourg Delivery Workers' Union (ULL) have joined forces to demand better protection of the rights of delivery riders employed by platforms in Luxembourg. This is a crucial goal in the eyes of the two unions, who have come out strongly against the current working conditions facing delivery riders, likening the situation to "modern-day slavery". The ULL has around 200 members, founded spontaneously back in June, when delivery riders decided to walk off the job.

Working 12, 13 or even 14 hours a day, and handing over, depending on the circumstances, more than half of their earnings to the employer: all of that points clearly to a failure to comply with labour law. Such conditions, union representatives argue, are only possible because the delivery riders are not permanent employees but are treated as independent contractors, according to David Angel, central secretary of the OGBL Health, Social Services and Education Syndicate. He explained that the vast majority of those affected were people with a migrant background who had not been in Luxembourg for long. Because of their status and their situation, they could not take up other regular salaried employment.

As a result, they relied on this way of earning money to survive, since it was truly a matter of survival. These individuals, he added, were often recruited right outside, or even inside, refugee reception centres. An estimated 2,000 people are affected, though precise figures are extremely difficult to come by. The sector as a whole is said to resemble the "Wild West", making it hard for the authorities to carry out proper inspections.

Also today

• The Chamber of Deputies has sanctioned Pirate Party MPs Sven Clement and Marc Goergen for mishandling public funds between 2018–2023.
• Luxembourg's CSV–DP coalition would lose its parliamentary majority if elections were held this Sunday, according to the latest Sunday Poll.
• Luxembourg City has given authorization from the Home Affairs Ministry to expand CCTV surveillance into the capital's downtown area.
• Eleven people are missing after two merchant ships were struck off the Bulgarian coast.
• Hungarian lawmakers voted to remove anti-LGBTQ provisions from a 2021 child protection law.
• Sweden's Social Democratic party leader Magdalena Andersson has failed to form a government with the three other parties in the left-wing bloc.
  

On air

Tom had an interesting Sproochentest for John, this week on the derivation of names. Also, it was Algorhythm time and tonight: Kula Shaker!!

Figure of the day

The total number of bar and café licenses remains steady at 3,280, with breweries accounting for nearly 30 percent of the total.

• The number of licences for cafés, bars and similar establishments has remained stable in recent years, according to a response to a parliamentary question submitted by Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) MPs Georges Engel and Ben Streff. In 2017, 3,209 licences were issued, while this year the figure stands at just over 3,280.
• Just under 30% of the licences, 935 to be exact, are held by breweries, while around 100 are in the hands of municipalities. Questions around fair competition between breweries and hospitality businesses, however, do not fall within his remit, Economy Minister Lex Delles stated in his reply.
  

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