Tageblatt reported on Wednesday that the next meeting is scheduled for 20 March. The Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) and the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) have expressed a wish for PM Luc Frieden to attend as well, in order to clarify what was discussed between him and ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The government has stated that Frieden urged that no relocations should take place, that ArcelorMittal’s headquarters should remain in Luxembourg, and that investment in Luxembourg sites should continue at a high level.
The Labour Minister Marc Spautz had initially explained that a meeting was not considered necessary at the time. He added that discussions between the social partners, namely ArcelorMittal management, trade unions and government representatives, would continue as usual within the framework of the Lux2030 Agreement working group. Confirmation emerged from the Government Council on Friday that both ministers will in fact take part in the upcoming discussions.
If no progress is made, Spautz and the Minister for the Economy, Lex Delles, will intervene and fulfill their responsibilities. The government is clearly opposed to the relocation of jobs from Luxembourg to Poland and India, Spautz said. Prime Minister Luc Frieden also made this clear to Aditya Mittal at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to a government press release issued on Friday evening.
According to ArcelorMittal Luxembourg, a study is currently under way to examine the rationalisation of processes. Following last week’s European Works Council meeting, there was discussion of cutting 1,150 jobs in Luxembourg, representing around a third of the workforce.
