The Independent Trade Union Confederation of Luxembourg, known as OGBL, has voiced criticism towards Amazon for its decision to have a limited number of employees work at its Kirchberg site on June 23, Luxembourg’s National Day public holiday. This decision has sparked debate over labor rights and the observance of public holidays.
Amazon defended its actions by highlighting that the coinciding of the public holiday with its annual Prime Day operations led to some staff volunteering to work. The company assured that participation was voluntary and emphasized that all employees involved would be compensated according to Luxembourg’s labor laws. They noted that only a limited number of employees were required for the operations on that day.
The OGBL, however, has stressed the importance of reserving public holidays for workers to rest, except for those employed in essential services like healthcare and emergency response. The union contends that even if employees volunteer to work, it does not absolve employers of their legal responsibilities regarding holiday pay.
Advising vigilance, the union has urged employees who worked on the holiday, especially those not in management positions, to scrutinize their payslips to ensure they receive the additional compensation mandated by law. If discrepancies are found, workers are encouraged to reach out to their human resources department or staff representatives for support in addressing any issues.