Digitalisation is making life difficult for Luxembourg's communes
Planet Volumes
More and more municipalities in Luxembourg are abandoning paper documents in favour of digital ones. In the municipality of Differdange, from 2024, employee payslips are now only available via the MyGuichet.lu platform. As the administration explains, the decision was taken for reasons of ecology and practicality.
But not all employees are coping with the transition. "I get lost on this website," says one worker who would rather receive the familiar paper slip. Despite the transition and the support of the staff delegation, many feel that automation has become too aggressive.
"One wrong click and that's it, an error. This is alarming for those who have hardly ever worked with computers," says the employee in an interview with L'Essentiel.
These fears are confirmed by Ombudsman Claudia Monti (Claudia Monti):
"Not all people have equal access to digital tools - some don't speak the language, some are elderly, some don't have money for the internet." It is particularly difficult, she says, in stressful situations - for example, when applying for a tenancy.
Monty emphasises that digitalisation should make life easier, not become a barrier. "Human contact cannot be cancelled. Being in the office is often the most effective way to solve problems.
In her view, a unilateral digital transition without an alternative creates social discrimination - especially in the public sector, where services should be accessible to all.
Local authorities claim to be doing their best: training staff, providing instructions, staff delegations helping colleagues. But this does not change the reality: not everyone feels digitally included, and this exacerbates inequalities in access to administrative services.
Digital platforms are the future, but if a person feels that "they can ruin everything with one click", it is no longer simplification, but stress. The question of whether people will still have the right to offline access to public services is becoming more and more relevant.
