Luxembourg's social policy conflict: trade unions vs. government

Luxembourg's Minister of Labour has scheduled a meeting of the Committee on Labour and Employment (CPTE) for 4 March 2025, but without discussing the crucial issue of collective bargaining reform. This has angered the country's two largest unions, OGBL and LCGB, which in their letter of 26 February demanded clear guarantees from the government to preserve the right to negotiate and sign collective agreements.

The OGBL and LCGB are in favour of maintaining the current model of collective agreements without restrictions on their content. In particular, they insist that Article L. 162-12 of the Labour Code, which regulates the terms of labour agreements, should not be amended. According to the unions, a possible reform of this article could weaken the protection of workers' rights.

The main cause of tension between unions and the government is a potential reform of collective bargaining, the details of which have not yet been revealed. Employers have long been pushing for more flexible bargaining, while unions fear that this would weaken their position and worsen labour conditions.

The trade union front demands clear guarantees from the government that their right to bargain will remain unchanged and that possible reforms will not affect the content of collective agreements to the detriment of workers. So far, however, the Minister of Labour has not given unequivocal answers, preferring to avoid this discussion.