Coordinated Working Time Adjustment: Demonstration by the USM and URM on Wednesday 30 June

The Prince's Government has been informed of the demonstration planned by the Union of Trade Unions (USM) and the Monaco Retiree's Union (URM) this Wednesday in front of the National Council. Through this action, these Unions intend to protest against the law on coordinated working time adjustment, passed recently by the Assembly.

The Prince's Government, which fully respects the constitutional right to protest, informed them on 29 June, at a meeting chaired by the Minister of State, that it was not, on principle, considering banning a demonstration, but that it considered a gathering in the vicinity of the National Council and the seat of Government to be inappropriate and disrespectful of the institutions while a legislative session was taking place concurrently.

The Government, which is a guarantor of security, considers that, in general, by virtue of its specific characteristics, the Rock is not a place that should be used for this type of demonstration.

The Government also recalls that, during the health crisis, the provisions of the Ministerial Decision of 25 June 2021 must be adhered to, in that this Decision only authorises gatherings of more than ten people in public places in exceptional cases.

At the meeting on 29 June, the Minister of State and the Minister of Health and Social Affairs were able to answer certain questions following the adoption of this text. This text only concerns the coordinated working time adjustment. It does not in any way aim to modify the powers of the trade union delegates and even less to modify the hierarchy of the texts in force within a company or call the collective agreements into question. No such project is envisaged or is being prepared within the State departments.

Finally, the Prince's Government also specifies that it has never been a matter of calling this text into question such as it has been approved by the National Council.

The Prince's Government reiterates its commitment to social dialogue, as the Minister of State pointed out at his meeting with the USM and the URM on Tuesday 29 June.