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The Country : The Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg Capital : Luxembourg Surface : 2586 km2 Population : 451 600 inhabitants Political system : constitutional monarchy (Grand-Duchy) Linguistic laws : law of 24 February 1984 regulating languages Official languages : Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuergesch), French and German With nearly 40% foreigners, Luxembourg is the European country which counts the strongest population of immigrants. Because of this characteristic, the country is the symbol of a meeting point for the various European cultures. Luxembourg is positioned like a crossroad of Europe, as much because of its geographical position as due to its cultural opening point. Moreover, this mastery of the main languages of Europe has allowed Luxembourg to be easily integrated into the construction of Europe and to even become a unifying factor. Working in Luxembourg A boast you often here about the Luxembourg Financial Centre is that of the quality of the workforce, and it is a boast that has much evidence behind it. Because Luxembourg is such an attractive environment both for working and living, it draws world class people who in turn raise the standard of local expertise. The result is a thriving, cosmopolitan working population who are: Multinational Multilingual Often outstanding in their field of expertise For people interested in working in the Luxembourg Financial Centre, it is worth knowing not only the attractions of the country, but also some of the basic requirements necessary for living, working, and moving here. Population Demographics The outstanding quality of Luxembourg's workforce is particularity impressive if you consider that the total population of the country is roughly 459,000, of which over 39,6% are foreigners living in Luxembourg. It is significant to note the number of 'frontaliers' or workers who commute from German, Belgian and French border workers to work in Luxembourg every day. In this case, the percentage of foreigners can rise to as much as 50% (naturally this percentage fluctuates). This rich and varied mix of cultures is a pillar not only for the Luxembourg Financial Centre but also for the many European institutions in Luxembourg and for Luxembourg's very active role in the EU. The often repeated comment that Luxembourg is at the 'centre' of Europe is as much cultural as it is geographical. A quick look at some numbers shows how truly it can be said that Luxembourg is a very 'European' country. According to figures from the Statec calculated at the end of 2005, the situation is as follows: total domestic employment: 311.200 - of which: cross-border commuters 118.300 domestic paid employment: 283.000 - of which: cross-border commuters 116.409 At present, more than 39% of paid jobs in Luxembourg are occupied by non-residents. This figure exceeds the proportion accounted for by Luxembourg nationals (34%), as it has for three years now. At the end of 2005, 51% of cross-border commuters were from France, 26,5% from Belgium and 22,3% from Germany. The movement in the other direction is less well known but not very significant: approximately 700 people resident in Luxembourg work in Germany, Belgium or France. A Multinational Workforce RESIDENTS - Luxembourgers: 277.700 - Foreigners: 181.800 - Portuguese: 67.800 - Italians: 18.800 - French: 22.900 - Belgians: 16.100 - Germans: 10400 - Others: 28.000 - Employed: 290.400 Non-resident border workers: 121.200 - France : 62.000 - Belgium : 32.200 - Germany : 27.000 A Multilingual Workforce The linguistic situation in Luxembourg is highly unique. Officially, there are 3 recognised languages: Luxembourgish, French and German. But most Luxembourgers also speak English. Luxembourgish was only recognised as the national language in 1984. German is still widely used, but French is the traditional language of administrations and justice. In the financial centre the general rule of thumb is that the origin or nationality of a company generally determines the language used for communication (for example French might be used in a French bank). But more often than not, English has become the language of business and finance, and usually, in the case of a meeting between people of different nationalities, English is the language spoken. Living and Working in Luxembourg Luxembourg offers appealing career opportunities that attract a large number of foreigners. In addition to the advantageous salary conditions, it offers an international and multicultural working environment. The relatively small size of Luxembourg, means that for workers living inside the country, commuting time is short, freeing up more leisure time. The standard of living is very high. At the same time, Luxembourg's proximity and short flight times to major European cities counts as an excellent advantage offering the best of both worlds. The universal social security system is a strong advantage, and Luxembourg has recently invested heavily into improving its health care system, including the construction of a new state of the art hospital, located in Kirchberg. Basic Information However, it is wise for persons seeking to live and work in Luxembourg to find out as much as they can before they make a move, simply to make the transition easier. Here we outline some of the most basic requirements and some basic information concerning working and living conditions, such as: Work Permits Initial Registration Social Security Tax Card Bank Account Moving of Financial Assets Annual Leave Work Permits Access to work is free for European Union nationals Non-European Union workers must obtain a work permit. The application is submitted by the employer to the Employment Office (ADEM) before the employee starts his job and before his arrival on site. The work permit is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after examination of the situation and of the evolution of the labour market. Initial Registration If a person seeking to work in Luxembourg has never worked in the Grand Duchy before: Social Security In order to register they must have: - a copy of your identity card - your date and place of birth Tax Card Every worker must submit a tax card to the employer. Without it, the employer is obliged to tax at a rate of 38% Bank Account Salaries are paid into a Luxembourg bank account only Moving of Financial Assets There are no restrictions on the transfer of financial assets to Luxembourg for intending residents. However, foreign residents must declare their income, exactly as Luxembourg citizens. It is best for foreigners to check with the competent authorities in their country of origin as to whether any administrative formalities must be complied with before transfer. Annual Leave All employees have a right, under the general scheme, to 25 working days’ annual leave, paid by the employer. This right commences after three months’ uninterrupted employment with the same employer. For each full month worked, the employee is entitled to 1/12 of his annual leave. However, in some cases annual leave may also be increased under a collective agreement. Schooling You might have children who need schooling while you're working in Luxembourg. In our above-mentioned Luxembourg, a linguistic puzzle, we also briefly describe the use of languages in Luxembourg schools. Check the Ministry of Education's website for a schematic overview of the Luxembourg School System (pages in French). St George's International School Luxembourg Rue des Marguerites L-2127 Weimershof Tel: 42 32 24 Fax: 42 32 34 email: info@st-georges.lu St George's welcomes pupils of all nationalities and offers a British style education for children aged two and a half to sixteen years of age and study right through to GCSE qualifications. Small classes with beneficial teacher-pupil ratios make for a friendly and caring environment. École Européenne 23 Boulevard Konrad Adenauer Tel: 43 20 82-1 Fax: 43 67 38 Please note that the original purpose of the "European School" was to provide schooling for the kids of people employed by the European Community. Therefore, they will only accept students if they have room after they have allocated the children of European Community employees. The International School of Luxembourg 36 blvd Pierre Dupont, L-1430 Luxembourg Tel: 26 04 40 In addition to the new Luxembourg University, there are three further institutions that offer Higher Education: The "Sacred Heart University at Luxembourg" is the only American accredited MBA programme in the Grand Duchy, and as such, it is a very popular choice with those seeking to maintain or introduce an American connection into their studies. The degree is also recognised by the Luxembourg government, and registration with the Ministry of National Education and Professional training bestows EU-wide recognition. As well as offering the full MBA course, which takes between one and a half and three years to complete - depending on the canidate's other commitments- the University has recently introduced four Graduate Professional Certificate Programmes. These are designed for those people who do not want to pursue the full MBA but are keen to study a certain field. Thus the certificates are in Fundamentals of Management, Finance, and Team Leadership as well as an advanced course of Team Leadership. These courses can be taken individually, or the credits can count towards an MBA. For more details about the "Sacred Heart University", contact the Luxembourg Campus on Tel: (+352) 22 76 13 or fax: (+352) 22 76 23, or write to: 25b, Boulevard Royal, 7th floor, L-2449 Luxembourg. The Miami University Dolibois European Center, Luxembourg offers study abroad in Luxembourg for a semester or a year. The Open University currently has about 200 students in Luxembourg. The University was established in 1963 and is Britain's largest and most innovative university with a world-wide reputation for the quality of its teaching. Students study part-time "at home", using multimedia supports (videos, cassettes) alongside the more traditional methods such as texts and books. For more details on the wide range of courses offered, please contact Valerie Scott. Tel: (+352) 44 40 91 801; Fax (+352) 44 40 91 650; Email: valerie.scott@open.ac.uk. The Luxembourg Schools Support Group provides information and practical help, in English, for parents with children in the system or those contemplating using state schools. It is run by parents whose children attend Luxembourgish schools and who offer advice based on their experiences and those of others. The Group produces two information packs which explain how the system works. The first covers pre-primary and primary education from 3-12 years old. The Group's other pack explains the secondary (lycée) system for children of 12 years and older. These are available by post on request. Information evenings are also held by the Group. For further information contact Mary Hood ( +352 32 66 70 ) or Sue Pidgley ( +352 26 30 54 57 ). Enquiries can also be sent to "lssg94 [@] hotmail.com". Looking through the Luxembourg Telephone directory sub "école" might give you further details. Also of note is the fact that the Luxembourg Telephone Directory is on the web. Parents might also like to contact the Luxembourg Youth Club at: Centre Information Jeunes 76 Boulevard de la Petrusse L-2320 Luxembourg Tel: 40 55 50 Further relevant places for getting more information on the subject of schooling are: Ministère de l'Education Nationale 29 Rue Aldringen L-2926 Luxembourg Tel: (+352) 2478 51 00 Fax: (+352) 2478 51 13 email: info@men.public.lu Service d'Orientation Scolaire 280 Route de Longwy L-1940 Luxembourg Open air gallery Open-air galleryIn the streets of the “Grund”, ancient and historic district of Luxembourg-city. Painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every first Saturday from April to October. Free entrance. Dates 2008: April 5th, May 3rd, June 7th, July 5th, August 2nd, September 6th, October 4th Contact Syndicat du Stadtgrund Konscht am Gronn 20 rue St Ulric L-2651 Luxembourg Contact: florenceh@openairgallery |
