Jobs pilot project, trades growth, speed camera

The national government and a local authority in the south have launched a pilot project to tackle long-term unemployment. Pro-Sud, an association of 11 municipalities including Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette, will identify the requirements that can lead to the creation of suitable jobs for the long-term unemployed. The state will subsidise those positions, fully for the first year. Nicolas Schmit, the LSAP labour minister, would like the first job contracts signed in September.
The Indian Business Chamber of Luxembourg is leading a small trade delegation to New Delhi this week. Three Luxembourg firms will participate in the Smart Cities India 2017 Expo. The 8 year old IBCL has around 130 members today.
The crafts industry added 144 new companies and around 4,500 new jobs to Luxembourg’s economy last year. That’s according to the Chamber of Trades (Chambre des métiers). This brings the total this year to more than 7,000 firms and 90,500 employees. Altogether, the sector represents nearly 9% of GDP.
“It’s not only about technologies… it is also a question of society. We want to be players and not just witnesses to such developments.” So said Xavier Bettel, the DP prime minister, during the annual ICT Spring conference. He was expressing support for the Digital Lëtzebuerg initiative, which promotes digital infrastructure and skills. “It’s not about making every child a future computer engineer, but rather giving them all the tools and knowledge they need to choose their profession.”
A new “semi-mobile” speed control camera will hit the streets of Luxembourg by the end of the month. The device is mounted on a trailer which will positioned “near significant, complicated and dangerous roadworks”. The National Roads Authority bought the device in October 2016, for €140,000, from Vitronic, the same vendor which provided the fixed and mobile radar units currently in service.