- What are the advantages and disadvantages for a Belgian cross-border worker to work in Luxembourg?
The advantages are many. In addition to the well-known extra legal benefits (increased family allowances, more advantageousCNS reimbursement, lower taxation on wages, etc.) it should also be noted that the industrial sector of the north of the Grand Duchy is very diversified and rich in companies of all sizes and active in very different sectors. This ranges from crafts to multinationals, including small companies active in local markets or part of international groups. For young people graduating from the many technical and higher schools located in Belgium, there are many possibilities to get involved in an interesting position and to develop their skills and their career.
- How is COVID-19 impacting the temping sector and the activities of your partners?
COVID-19 is impacting all our partners consequently. Except for a few companies that continue to operate normally, we can say that all economic sectors have been affected. The sales and catering sector have been particularly affected. In addition, the law prohibits companies benefiting from short-time working from work using temporary workers. Thus, clients who use this mean as economic support are forced to cancel the missions. Within a few days, hundreds of temporary workers had to face the cancellation of their contract.
- What did you implement to fight against the decline in economic activity caused by the lock down?
We have been in permanent contact with all of our associates since in this "COVID adventure" things have moved very quickly. One expression sums up the situation we had to face: "The truth of the morning may not be the truth of the afternoon." In other words, the situation of our customers was not stable, it could go from white to black in a few days. Thanks to our close relationships with them, we have been able to constantly adapt to these changes in order to support our clients in this turbulent period. As for our temp workers, they were fantastic. They also had to show a great sense of adaptation.
- What are the most sought-after profiles / positions currently?
Currently, the profiles sought are mainly building profiles as well as technical profiles for the industrial sector. However, the pandemic has also "created" new types of workstations for specific cleaning and disinfection functions, for supermarkets and stores.
Since June, we have also been able to invest in a major project. In fact, the Adecco Group has been selected as partner to support the test project launched by the government of Luxembourg. The project includes test screening for Luxembourg and border populations in 17 sites across the country. Therefore, for this project, Adecco Group has been appointed to recruit temporary staff responsible for welcoming and guiding the testers at these 17 sites as well as ensuring site logistics.
- How is the health crisis forcing us to rethink our ways of working?
During the crisis, teleworking was the solution for many employers to “keep” their business. Today, with the computer tools we use every day, we can maintain the same efficiency while staying at home. Training, meetings, follow-up contact with our employees, our temporary staff, recruitment and selection of candidates. All of this happened naturally online or through a dedicated platform. Remote working is a new way of working and will undoubtedly affect our future organization. .
- In this period of health crisis, how did you manage to protect temporary workers during a mission?
Of course, the health of our employees and temporary workers is at the heart of our concerns. From the start of the confinement, many measures were taken, not only to inform our partners, but also to guide our temporary workers on the social distancing rules to respect during the mission. We used different communication methods and e-learning modules to ensure a better understanding of these new hygiene rules and thus apply them in our daily lives. We also make sure to equip all temporary workers but also our employees with agencies, masks and means of protection.