Trade union proposals for introduction of parental leave

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Following the breakdown of talks with employers' representatives, Luxembourg's two main trade unions approached the Government in January 1998 and set out their proposals for transposing the EU Directive on parental leave.

Luxembourg has not yet transposed the European Union Directive 96/34/EC of 3 June 1996 on parental leave (TN9801201S). Current legislation contains no clause entitling employees to take leave to bring up children with a guarantee that they will get their job back; nor is there any provision for leave enabling workers to deal with unforeseeable family problems, such as the illness of a partner or child, that oblige them to return home immediately.

The two main trade unions, OGB-L and LCGB, have proposed to the Government that Luxembourg should transpose this Directive by means of an agreement to be drawn up by the social partners. There have been several meetings between the two unions and the Employers' Liaison Committee (Comité de liaison patronal) aimed at identifying ways of resolving the issue. These negotiations have come to nothing, and any agreement would have required follow-up legislation.

Following the breakdown of the talks, OGB-L and LCGB decided on 20 January 1998 to approach the competent Ministers and make verbal submissions on their written proposals on transposing the Directive.