{"id":60235,"date":"2025-11-03T11:43:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T10:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ogbl.lu\/?post_type=communiques&p=60235"},"modified":"2025-11-03T14:24:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T13:24:32","slug":"ils-veulent-nos-heures-pour-leurs-profits-nous-voulons-du-temps-pour-nos-vies","status":"publish","type":"communiques","link":"https:\/\/www.ogbl.lu\/en\/communique\/ils-veulent-nos-heures-pour-leurs-profits-nous-voulons-du-temps-pour-nos-vies\/","title":{"rendered":"They want our hours for their profits, we want time for our lives!"},"content":{"rendered":"

During meetings of the so-called \u201dsocial round table\u201d (Sozialronn), Luxembourg employers, represented by the \u201cUnion des entreprises luxembourgeoises\u201d (Luxembourg Business Union), demanded that the issue of working time organisation be placed on the agenda.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The employers\u2019 representatives presented what can only be described as a catalogue of horrors: increasing the maximum weekly working time, reducing weekly rest periods, undermining special leave, excessive flexibility, and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although this list has not been made public, employers are clearly taking advantage of the openings provided by the CSV-DP government to push for further concessions. In an ideal world, they would like workers to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with working hours dictated solely by employer needs, with no regard for workers\u2019 personal or family lives.<\/p>\n

The CSV-DP coalition has effectively opened the door in its government programme, notably by proposing the automatic implementation of a 12-month legal reference period – currently only possible under a collective labour agreement. This would make working time organisation significantly more flexible, without requiring employers to negotiate conditions and compensation with trade unions.<\/p>\n

Enough is enough!<\/p>\n

The \u201cQuality of Work Index\u201d published by the Chambre des Salari\u00e9s (Chamber of Employees) shows that between 2014 and 2022, an increasing number of workers are finding it harder to balance personal and professional life. More and more are being forced to work irregular hours, while their ability to influence their own work schedules continues to decline. The measures being considered by the government and the UEL would only make this situation worse.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the same study shows that 83% of employees are in favour of a reduction in working hours – with full pay. Employees are clearly demanding fewer working hours to claw back more time for their personal lives.<\/p>\n

Historically, modernisation in working time has meant social: the eight-hour day, the 40-hour week, Sunday rest, paid leave, etc. Today, what is being touted as \u201cmodernisation\u201d is, in reality, forced flexibility: , a reduction in time for family and leisure, all for the benefit of employer demands.<\/p>\n

Real negotiations, not pseudo-social dialogue<\/p>\n

In its unilateral conclusions following the social round table, the government tasked the Standing Committee on Labour and Employment (CPTE) with discussing working time organisation.
\nBut all signs point to these discussions becoming a farce. s was the case during the social round table: not real negotiations, but simply an exchange of opinions, with the government making the final decision alone.<\/p>\n

Faced with this break with the Luxembourg social model, the Union of Trade Unions OGBL-LCGB has decided to no longer participate in CPTE meetings and will insteadpresent its demands directly to the relevant ministers in bilateral meetings.<\/p>\n

Our proposals<\/p>\n

The OGBL and LCGB trade unions propose several measures to improve work-life balance, in response to the government\u2019s conclusions on working time organisation.<\/strong><\/p>\n