The Tripartite Coordinating Committee (Comité de Coordination Tripartite- LU9711127F [1]) met over February-March 1998 (LU9803151N [2]) to discuss Luxembourg's national action plan to fulfil the decisions taken at the special European Council Jobs Summit held in November 1997 (EU9711168F [3]). However, the tripartite negotiations on employment broke down after only a few meetings. The sticking point was a possible reorganisation of working time, which could lead to greater flexibility and a gradual reduction in hours, through the use of a "framework law" (LU9712134F [4]).[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined-industrial-relations/is-the-luxembourg-model-of-industrial-relations-in-danger[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/tripartite-committee-on-employment-starts-work[3] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined/employment-summit-agrees-limited-package-of-measures-to-combat-unemployment[4] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/labour-market-undefined-working-conditions-industrial-relations/employment-policy-debate-focuses-on-working-time
In March 1998, talks broke down in Luxembourg's tripartite committee on employment. The Minister of Labour then moved the process along by seeing the social partners separately with a view to resolving their fundamental disagreement on working time.
The Tripartite Coordinating Committee (Comité de Coordination Tripartite- LU9711127F) met over February-March 1998 (LU9803151N) to discuss Luxembourg's national action plan to fulfil the decisions taken at the special European Council Jobs Summit held in November 1997 (EU9711168F). However, the tripartite negotiations on employment broke down after only a few meetings. The sticking point was a possible reorganisation of working time, which could lead to greater flexibility and a gradual reduction in hours, through the use of a "framework law" (LU9712134F).
To make further progress, the Minister of Labour and Employment saw the social partners separately on two occasions on 25 and 30 March 1998. The sole purpose was to discuss working time, with a view to identifying a possible solution that would be acceptable to all concerned. "Some progress was made," according to a statement issued by the Minister. The Government reaffirmed its original intention to pay social security contributions itself in respect of jobs created by reductions in working hours, as long as registered unemployed workers are taken on to fill the time freed.
Following these interventions, it proved possible to keep to the original plan whereby the tripartite committee's report would be finalised for 6 April 1998.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1998), Tripartite employment negotiations underway again, article.
