The debate about a pay rise for shop workers, asked to work an extra evening hour on Saturdays and on days before bank holidays, is ongoing. Two weeks ago, negotiations on this subject broke down after trade unions and Luxembourg's commerce confederation couldn't find an agreement. The minister for the middle classes, Françoise Hetto-Gaasch, took matters into her own hands and decided on a settlement which allows shops to open until 7pm on Saturdays and on days before bank holidays. Under an exemption which runs until 30 June 2012, shops are currently allowed to stay open until 8pm.

On Tuesday, union OGBL issued a statement saying that one of its delegations recently met up with employment minister Nicolas Schmit to further discuss this matter. The OGBL representatives insisted, that legislation should either be put back to the 6pm closing time that was in place before the current exemption, or that employees should in future get a 50 % pay rise for the extra hour between 6pm and 7pm.

Nicolas Schmit told union representatives that he'll discuss the feasibility of this demand with Mrs Hetto-Gaasch.