Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure LU-2020-48/1515 – Updated – measures in Luxembourg
Country | Luxembourg , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 23 November 2020 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Tripartite agreements |
Category |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
– Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Author | Patrick Thill (LISER) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 30 November 2020 (updated 31 January 2022) |
Prior to the Prime Minister's press conference on 23 November 2020, the "Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtleche Gewerkschaftsbond" (LCGB, Luxembourg Christian Trade Union Confederation) and "Onofhängege Gewerkschaftsbond Lëtzebuerg" (OGBL,Independent Trade Union Confederation of Luxembourg) unions expressed their wish to organise a tripartite before the end of the year. According to the unions, such a measure would be necessary to take into account the difficult situation created by the COVID-19 crisis, especially if a second lockdown takes place. On 19 January 2021 and again on 1 May 2021, on the occasion of Labour Day, the unions called for a tripartite meeting. In September 2021, this demand is still unheeded.
The trade unions, notably the LCGB wants all the actors - government, employers and trade unions - to discuss the necessary measures to avoid a wave of bankruptcies in the sectors affected by the renewed lockdown, as well as the extension of short-time work. Especially since the catering and events industry, to name but two sectors, was already severely shaken by the first lockdown in March and weakened by the subsequent uncertain and turbulent times. Although state aid to enterprises has been announced, the LCGB is today calling on the government to develop measures to safeguard jobs, incomes and the livelihoods of workers.
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
14 December 2021 |
The Tripartite Coordination Committee met on 3 December 2021 to carry out an interim review of several of the measures, particularly regarding the work carried out on the subject of "skills" and "investment". It was decided to extend until February 2022 inclusive the recovery aid and the aid for uncovered costs as well as partial unemployment for vulnerable sectors whose activities are still directly affected by the health measures. The criteria for granting the extension of the aid schemes and short-time working will be reviewed at the next Business Cycle Committee to be held in mid-December. The rate of partial unemployment is set at 80% of the employee's normal gross hourly wage, with a ceiling of 250% of the minimum social wage. In addition, it was decided that the compensation allowance may not be lower than the minimum social wage |
01 May 2021 |
The trade unions' demand for a national tripartite is still on the table but is not echoed by the other social partners. This is why the measure is still active and remains topical without an end date. |
12 April 2021 |
The trade unions: LCGB, OGBL and CGFP, have written to the Prime Minister asking for a round table discussion between the social partners to assess the situation and agree on the measures to be taken. Their request remains unanswered. |
Not available.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Applies to all workers | Applies to all businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
Social partners jointly
|
National funds
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Consulted | Informed |
Form | Unknown | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
For the time being it is just a proposal from the unions, mainly the LCGB. As far as the unions are concerned, the LCGB has taken the initiative and would like to see a tripartite meeting before the end of 2020. For the time being, the idea of organising a tripartite at the national level is only discussed through the exchange of views through press releases.
As far as the unions are concerned, the LCGB has taken the initiative and would like to see a tripartite meeting before the end of 2020. On the other hand, the OGBL does not want to force negotiations at all costs in order to give the social partners enough time to prepare seriously. As far as the employers are concerned, in particular the Union des Entreprises Luxembourgeoises (UEL), it sees no need to organise a national tripartite in relation to the pandemic. For the UEL, the priority would rather be to improve the skills of employees in terms of digitalisation.
Citation
Eurofound (2020), Unions want to speed up tripartite national social dialogue, measure LU-2020-48/1515 (measures in Luxembourg), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/LU-2020-48_1515.html
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