On Wednesday 23 March 2022, the LCGB, the majority trade union representing staff in Luxembourg's largest supermarket chain, Cactus, announced the signing of an agreement to restore eight-hour Sunday working days for staff.
Following irregularities noted during controls by Luxembourg's Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) which monitors working cooperation and labour conditions, employers have had to strictly limit Sunday work to four hours per employee except for six special Sundays that are regulated by the provisions of the Labour Code. Employees showed dissatisfaction following what the union described as a deterioration in their private and professional lives in terms of longer working hours and shorter rest days.
After several months without a national solution to the issue of Sunday work, the LCGB took on negotiating agreements that will restore eight-hour Sunday working days, allowing a better balance between professional and private lives for staff.
Similar agreements have been negotiated at Delhaize, Lidl, Massen and PallCenter. The LCGB made proposals to the management of these different retail companies which included a key demand related to the strict application of the voluntary use of eight-hours Sunday work days. Employees thus now have the choice of opting for either maintaining four hours of Sunday work, as provided for by the Labour Code, or for eight hours of Sunday work. According to the union, companies can also benefit in optimising their personnel planning, in particular with the possibility for longer work days on Sundays for employees who so wish.
The LCGB stated that it also aims to find such a solution for small businesses in the future.
