About this Episode
The OGBL and LCGB unions have proposed a joint package ahead of upcoming tripartite talks, emphasizing the need for a permanent job-protection unit, a higher solidarity tax on large companies, and a €7 billion investment fund. They argue that economic challenges should be addressed through investment and training rather than social cuts or wage pressures. The proposed job-retention unit would offer individual support and training to employees facing layoffs. Additionally, the unions are advocating against any general cuts in corporate tax, suggesting instead that large companies maintain their current rates while small businesses receive relief. They also demand an immediate €300 increase in the social minimum wage and adjustments to tax thresholds in line with inflation, alongside a robust investment strategy aimed at creating public and affordable housing.
The government is facing criticism from opposition MPs for its handling of the closure of International Criminal Court (ICC) accounts by the state-owned bank Spuerkeess, which feared repercussions from US sanctions. Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel characterized the issue as administrative and asserted that the government does not interfere in banking operations. This follows sanctions imposed by the US on ICC personnel, including the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Critics, including Green MP Sam Tanson and members of the Left and Socialist parties, argue that Luxembourg has a responsibility to support the ICC, especially given its international obligations. The two accounts held €17 million and have since been moved to a Dutch bank, which has shown clear support for the ICC.
A significant step has been taken towards establishing a public outdoor swimming pool in Luxembourg City, with the successful acquisition of land in Kockelscheuer, as confirmed by city councillors. For years, residents have lacked outdoor swimming options, but plans now include a 50-meter pool, a kiosk, and potentially a children’s water park. The land purchase was seen as the final piece needed for the project, which has been discussed for over a decade. While the facility aims to cater to modern needs, older generations remember the city’s former open-air pools, such as the popular “Luxembourg-Plage,” which closed in the late 1980s.
