On Monday 12 January 2026, the Luxembourg Employers' Association (Union des Entreprises Luxembourgeoises - UEL) has reported that a UEL delegation met Luxembourg’s Minister of Labour, Marc Spautz, for an initial exchange of views on key current social and labour-related issues.
The meeting took place against an economic backdrop marked by growing uncertainty and multiple challenges, during which the association and its members reaffirmed the importance of a “constructive, balanced and responsible social dialogue”, based on respect for the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders.
The employers’ association pointed to weak or non-existent economic growth since 2021, alongside declining productivity, reduced job creation and rising unemployment, which it said has increased by almost 50% since 2022. In this context, it stressed the need to improve the legal framework in order to revitalise both the economy and the labour market.
Employer organisations also underlined the necessity of modernising labour legislation to enable companies to meet the expectations of clients and employees and to adapt to new realities, particularly with regard to the organisation of working time.
Discussions further addressed issues linked to European directives, notably those relating to adequate minimum wages and pay transparency. According to UEL, it is “essential to adopt a pragmatic and balanced approach” when adopting European legal texts and transposing them into Luxembourg law, taking into account not only employee protection but also the economic reality faced by Luxembourg companies. The association also called for the simplification of existing legislation and a reduction in administrative burdens for businesses.
UEL added that employer organisations took note of the Minister of Labour’s willingness to continue discussions on these various matters, initially on a bilateral basis. They stated that they are ready to “actively contribute, in the common interest of companies and employees,” to national-level social dialogue, which they said is entering a new phase with regard to employment and labour law issues.
