Last September, the OGBL denounced the dysfunctions at the heart of the BENU Village project, due to poor management and lack of political supervision, and demanded explanations on behalf of the 40 or so employees of this non-profit association.

On October 18, the OGBL also requested an urgent meeting with the mayor of Esch-sur-Alzette to discuss the situation. To date, the OGBL has not received a reply, which testifies to the unacceptable indifference of the political authorities towards the future and well-being of the employees of a project that, ironically, was presented as a social and sustainable flagship of the Iron Metropolis.

Let’s not forget that BENU Village is financed by public funds, and therefore it is absolutely shameful that its deplorable financial management has been so neglected, with the result that today 40 employees still do not know if they will still have a job next month.

It should also be remembered that in Luxembourg, an employer with more than 15 employees is legally obliged to organize social elections in order to appoint a staff delegation and thus enable the employees to be represented in the company. This was not considered necessary at BENU Village. As a result of pressure from the employees, supported by the OGBL, social elections will finally be held this year.

In this context, the OGBL, together with the employees, is ready to take all necessary industrial actions to resolve the situation in the interest of the workers. The management, the board of directors and the political leaders must be held accountable for the dysfunctions that have occurred at BENU Village.

Finally, it is totally unacceptable that employees who have been part of the association for years and who have fully committed themselves to this so-called flagship project should be abandoned to their fate as is currently the case.

Press release of the OGBL Health, Social and Educational Services Syndicate,
November 14, 2023