New employment initiative in the north of Luxembourg

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A new initiative called "Service to citizens", launched by a trade union-backed association in October 1998, seeks to provide young unemployed people in the north of Luxembourg with an initial experience of work, and at the same time give them extra individual training.

On 29 October 1998, a new initiative for the north of Luxembourg entitled "Service to citizens" (Service aux citoyens) was unveiled to the press by the non-profit-making association, Forum for Employment (Forum pour l'emploi). The Forum was set up in early 1998 by the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtleche Gewerkschafts-Bond, LCGB). The news scheme seeks to provide young unemployed people with an initial experience of work, while giving them extra individual training.

The Forum for Employment, which has employed five management staff since 1 April 1998, receives 37.5% of its funding from the national Fund for Employment (Fonds pour l'emploi) and another 37.5% from the European Structural Funds, with the remainder coming from local and regional structures. Since April, the Forum has taken on 10 young unemployed workers who are now renovating a former factory that the Forum will subsequently use as its own premises.

From 3 November 1998, the Forum is offering a "Service to citizens" to anyone temporarily requiring a home carer, or help in the garden or with small cleaning, clearing, demolition or repair jobs. The vocational needs of the young unemployed people assigned to these tasks will be addressed through individual training packages drawn up in collaboration with the Vocational Training Service (Service de la Formation Professionnelle), a department of the Ministry of National Education.