Luxembourg NGOs Criticise Government Action Plan Against Poverty

On Friday 10 April 2026, several NGOs in Luxembourg issued a statement in which they criticised Luxembourg's national anti-poverty plan (NAP), saying that it excludes the most disadvantaged.

The statement, signed by Amnesty International Luxembourg, Association de Soutien aux Travailleurs Imagers (ASTI – Association for the Support of Immigrant Workers), Médecins du Monde, UNICEF, FEEL Humanity and Solidaritéit matt den Heescherten (Solidarity with the homeless), said that while the country's first national action plan (NAP) for preventing and fighting poverty included several positive developments, it failed to address several issues. 

The NGOs noted that the simplification of administrative procedures, the harmonisation of assistance provided by different social services and the automation of certain forms of aid all represented positive developments. The group also welcomed the adjustment of the REVIS law, which in certain cases aims to prevent loss of entitlement or repayments, the measures aimed at improving Universal Health Coverage (CUSS) and the establishment of mobile psycho-medico-social teams in order to reach people in situations of severe hardship.

However, the NGOs highlighted what they perceive as a number of issues with the NAP. These included the absence of a reliable statistical basis for the measurement of poverty, stating that this represents a major obstacle and such data are essential for understanding the Luxembourg context and for implementing effective policies. The group also noted the absence of the development of low-threshold support within the NAP, administrative barriers relating to social welfare offices, as well as a lack of planning in relation to affordable housing.

Other issues raised included a lack of measures regarding the fight against child poverty and the absence of specific consideration for the beneficiaries of international protection (BPI), who are affected by housing issues and may need enhanced support in certain areas such as employment. The NGOs also called out the exclusion of asylum seekers within the plan and stated: “The fact that the NAP states their situation is closely linked to their legal status, migratory pathway and European obligations regarding asylum, migration and reception cannot justify a lack of measures addressing them.”

Furthermore, the group stressed that a lack of measures in the NAP in relation to the issue of in-work poverty and inequality needed to be addressed. The group said: “13.4% of workers in Luxembourg are at risk of poverty, a record rate in the European Union. No concrete measures, such as an increase in the minimum social wage, are included in the NAP to address this.”

It added: “In Luxembourg, beyond income inequality, the distribution of wealth raises significant questions. The Luxembourg Housing Observatory (LISER) noted in its report no. 29 in 2023 that ‘3,447 individuals (0.5% of the resident population) owned half of all land potential in 2020/2021’ and a survey by the Central Bank of Luxembourg (2021) shows that the richest 10% hold 47.9% of wealth (compared with 9% for the poorest 50%).”

Moreover, the group of associations called for maximum transparency around the monitoring of the implementation of the plan and its future evaluation, so that “civil society can fully participate and propose necessary improvements”.