From 2 p.m., the negotiations will continue within the framework of a new tripartite. Among others JDL, Jonk Gréng and Aleba have concrete expectations and demands.
Expectations for the third party
Simone MOLITOR
From 2 p.m., the negotiations will continue within the framework of a new tripartite. Among others JDL, Jonk Gréng and Aleba have concrete expectations and demands.
Aleba confirmed his position on Thursday evening in a press release. In a context of galloping inflation, the banking syndicate is waiting for lasting decisions to effectively help households fight against the loss of purchasing power. A new rate of indexation from this year is essential. Nevertheless, the time has come to reform the index, at least temporarily. Aleba maintains his idea of shifting it, i.e. adapting it to the different salary groups, instead of postponing new tranches.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Fédération des Artisans, Romain Schmit, laments on his blog: “We have returned to the classic tripartite situation, where the government, the employers and the unions negotiate index tranches and compensation, while the parties are keen not to burn their fingers politically, given the upcoming election’.
The index is the worst answer we can give in connection with the energy crisis.
Romain Schmit, Craftsmen’s Association
The central question is not whether it is necessary and how the index discs should be manipulated, but “how to protect our economic foundations against the tsunami that falls on us”, writes Romain Schmit, for whom the index is “the worst answer” we can give in connection with the energy crisis. “For low incomes it is not enough, for higher incomes the energy is overcompensated, the wage gap continues to widen and the companies are charged far too high taxes”, he illustrates.
Maneuvering room in the state treasury
With inflation, government revenues would also increase. The General Secretary of the Craftsmen’s Association is certain that there should therefore be scope to intervene socially selectively and economically sensibly through targeted energy aid. “Dispersal policies, such as automatic and full wage indexation, have absolutely no place. (…) It is not an option to get the companies to pay all the overdue index payments and leave them at the mercy of the energy crisis”, emphasizes Schmit.
Introduce teleworking until April
The Young Liberals’ (JDL) catalog of demands does not address the issue of the index, but directly presents a whole list of “generation-friendly and future-oriented measures to overcome the energy crisis” to be discussed during the trip. The Young Democrats propose a monthly energy subsidy (up to 200 euros) to relieve low-income households and the middle class until the end of winter.
To save energy and reduce fuel consumption, they are calling for a right to telework to be introduced for all workers until at least April. The government is encouraged to continue discussions with neighboring countries with a view to negotiating an extension of cross-border teleworking days. The public authorities’ measures to reduce heating and energy costs this winter are welcomed, but the state and municipalities should also try to save on electricity, suggests JDL, which e.g. alludes to Christmas lights. Furthermore, public buildings should only be lit during working hours.
A significant increase in the premiums for energy renovations and solar installations is also requested. Bureaucratic obstacles to the implementation of these measures should also be purposefully reduced.
In terms of aid measures, the government should “above all make future-oriented investments, decide on targeted support for low-income workers and the middle class and come to the aid of companies affected by the prices that are current energy problems”, JDL concludes.
Don’t forget the younger generations in times of crisis
The young ecologists also intervened via a press release to especially call for solidarity with young and future generations. As part of the relief measures, these should not be overlooked. The indexation of scholarships would thus be important to ensure that the amount of support remains reasonable in the face of rising prices.
In order to speed up the energy transition, Déi jonk Gréng calls for the financial support given to companies to be linked to commitments regarding climate protection. The lack of skilled labor in crafts must also be dealt with consistently. In addition to the bottlenecks in production, this shortage is a major obstacle to the energy transition. Pupils should have an overview of these subjects from primary school onwards in order to arouse their interest in a trade career.
It would also be a matter of investigating to what extent the premiums for climate-friendly heating systems could be made even more attractive.
Other claims relate to mental health. “The CNS must finally cover the costs of psychotherapy,” says the young Greens. They are also calling for the right to remote work two days a week in subjects that allow it, to ensure a better balance between work and private life.
This article was first published on wort.lu/de
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