At the request of the unions, the OGBL, which has a majority in the sector, the employers’ association FEDIL, the Minister for the Economy, Franz Fayot, and the Minister for Employment, Georges Engel, met to analyze the situation in the sector and to ensure that the right responses were given after the two redundancy plans announced in recent weeks.

At the tripartite meeting, the employer and government representatives, as well as the OGBL, confirmed that there is no general crisis in the sector. Nevertheless, the OGBL remains cautious and wants to equip itself with the means to find immediate solutions to existing problems and to anticipate and face future challenges.

Although the redundancy plans have now been withdrawn and the social dialogue re-established, it should be noted that these companies initially disregarded the workers’ representatives’ right to information and participation. This constitutes an offense of obstruction, which can be prosecuted. It should be noted that the actors present confirmed that these were anomalies for the country and that social dialogue and job protection were still the main objectives.

Nevertheless, the OGBL will continue to denounce this situation and will not hesitate to take legal action. At the meeting, the OGBL gave a clear warning to the employers’ representatives on this issue and reiterated the importance of good social dialogue.

Renewing and strengthening social dialogue

Faced with an uncertain geopolitical context, aggravated by speculation on energy and raw material prices, a digital and ecological transition that is forcing itself upon us, and an aggressive industrial policy on the part of the Americans, it is obviously essential to act in favor of a coordinated industrial policy.

The OGBL calls for inspiration from the American model, which supports industry in its energy transition and aims to reindustrialize the country by focusing on the development and creation of well-paid union jobs. All of this is only possible if workers’ voices are heard and workers’ representatives are actively involved in the changes.

In this context, the participants called for and supported the strengthening of the existing tripartite platforms for exchange between the social partners:

• Strengthening the role of the Comité de conjoncture, with special and regular attention to the sector in order to anticipate challenges;
• Convening a permanent committee on work and employment (Comité permanent de l’emploi et du travail – CPTE) to improve the law on the job protection plan (plan de maintien dans l’emploi – PME);
• Reactivating the role of the ADEM as a key player in the company monitoring committees set up to support the job protection plan (plan de maintien dans l’emploi – PME).

Social responsibility of companies

For the OGBL, an industry of the future is only possible if companies are given a sense of responsibility. In concrete terms, this means that aid, whether social (early retirement, short-time working, reimbursement of training costs, etc.) or public, must include social criteria with real quid pro quos and social commitments towards employees.

The OGBL will not support blank checks for investors!

Digital and ecological transitions will happen with us, not without us!