Luc Frieden contradicts unions when it comes to Sunday work

« Our hand is always stretched out for social dialogue and it will stay that way, » emphasized Luc Frieden (CSV) on Friday afternoon at a press conference after the government council meeting. The government regretted that the unions have not noticed the individual conversations. For this reason, the OGBL and LCGB government invited to a meeting on July 9th to discuss, among other things, how to proceed with social dialogue in the coming months.

So far, both unions have not yet responded to the invitation, said Frieden. In a democracy it is normal to have different opinions. « In my view, I always dealt with all the union presidents in a very friendly tone, » said the Prime Minister. He added that the dialogue should be searched with all social partners to make progress and at the same time make sure that the coalition program would be implemented.

Luc Frieden’s walk on June 28th

For June 28th, OGBL and LCGB call for a joint demonstration to protest against government policy. Topics include pension reform, Sunday work and collective contracts. The first results of the retirement debate are to be presented at the beginning of July by Minister of Social Affairs Martine Drez, said the Prime Minister.

These are to be discussed with the social partners on July 9th. When asked by a journalist as to whether the government is planning a referendum on the pension reform, Peace replied: « We generally do not plan a referendum, not even on the subject. And in this case it would not enable technical complexity. »

A pension reform will not be carried out to make people sad or angry, but so that the Luxembourg pension system will continue to exist in the future. « We have to see what is happening abroad. In Luxembourg you retire on average at around 60 years – that is the earliest retirement age in the entire European Union and the OECD. You can think about it. »

The prime minister added: « We also see that economic growth has been lower in the past three years than before – and therefore no longer sufficient to wear our previous social security system as usual. »

He also reacted to the flyers of the unions, in which a supposed extent of Sunday work is warned: « I would like to tell the population that this is not the case. Rather, employees in retail will be able to work more than four hours on Sunday. » According to peace, the chamber should make the necessary adjustments to this legal project according to the Avis of the State Council, because this is part of the legislative procedure.

What is the prime minister plans on June 28th? « It is a Saturday and it is quite possible that I go for a walk that day because I am a great nature lover, » replied the CSV politician.

Luxembourg’s position on the Middle East conflict

Before this date, the Prime Minister awaits « intensive weeks » abroad. Next week, he will take part in the implementation of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine in New York together with Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel (DP). Luxembourg stands for such a solution, « because Luxembourg is a friend of Israel and understands the worries of the Palestinians ».

This is important to achieve peace in this region and to guarantee the security of Israel as well as to give the Palestinian people a country in which it can develop in peace and freedom, according to the Luxembourg. He called Israel and Iran to adhere to international law and strive for a de -escalation after Israel attacked the Iranian atomic infrastructure. The Foreign Minister showed himself on Friday morning « deeply concerned about the new escalation violence in the Middle East « .

On June 25, Bettel and Peace with Defense Minister Yuriko Backes (DP) take part in the NATO summit in the Hague. The government would like to conduct the additional security and defense spending in consensus with the other member states.

Border control: a bilateral agreement with Germany?

On Friday, Frieden also announced that he would meet Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz after these two peaks before the summer in Berlin. « Germany is the largest economy in Europe. The Luxembourg economy is very closely linked to the Germans. It is therefore good that we can have these conversations at the highest level and in close coordination with the new Chancellor, » said the Prime Minister.

He also came to the 40th birthday of the Schengen Agreement, which is celebrated this Saturday. For him, Schengen stands « for freedom and security » and it is a political decision on which work must always be done.

He was also convinced that a bilateral agreement with the German neighbor is possible in order to facilitate the everyday life of the cross -life border commuters. « You are welcome with us, we need you and you need our economic area to be able to work. We are confident that we can preserve this beautiful common acquis together with our European partners. »