PostedSeptember 18, 2022, 10:11 PM
Tripartite in LuxembourgInflation becomes public enemy number one
SENNINGEN – The social partners began a round of negotiations on Sunday evening in an attempt to find solutions to the explosion in prices.
Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister, met the social partners. The tripartite is currently scheduled for three days.
Editpress/Fabrizio Pizzolante
The social partners, meeting in tripartite since Sunday, want to attack inflation head-on. “Tackling inflation will benefit everyone,” said Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister, in the evening, between two sessions of an interminable tripartite from the first day. He mentioned the idea of setting a limit on energy prices, without an agreement having been reached for the moment.
“The goal is not only to help players deal with inflation, but to reduce it in general,” explained a participant. According to him, measures such as those of the spring (aid for the purchase of fuel, energy tax credit, etc.) “may ultimately reinforce inflation”. He cites as an example to follow “the tariff shield in France, effective against inflation”. The latter should reach 6.6% this year in Luxembourg, then the same figure again next year, according to the latest forecasts from Statec. “Limiting energy prices is our first demand,” recalls Nora Back, president of the OGBL.
Avoid social tensions
Before arriving at concrete measures, the social partners must negotiate fiercely. “Each gave their analysis of the situation. There are obviously differences, it is the principle of a tripartite”, continues Xavier Bettel. He is ready to take the time for discussion, “as much as necessary”.
During the last tripartite, in March, the actors failed to unite, since the OGBL refused to sign the final agreement postponing an index tranche, paving the way for protests and demonstrations. This is exactly what stakeholders want to avoid, while the question of the index is more burning than ever: Statec plans up to four tranches by the end of 2023, in addition to that of July 2022, postponed to April 2023. “The negotiations will still be long, it is still too early to say whether we will reach an agreement this time”, launched Nora Back.