All Dag iwwer d'Grenz
B2Across the border every day
A B2 text about the cross-border commuters who keep Luxembourg's economy running. Read first, then check the translation to confirm the details.
Text
All Muergen setzen sech méi wéi zweehonnertdausend Mënschen an d'Auto oder an den Zuch, fir aus Frankräich, der Belsch oder Däitschland op Lëtzebuerg schaffen ze goen. Dës Grenzgänger maachen ongeféier d'Hallschent vun alle Salariéen am Land aus. Ouni si géifen ganz Beräicher vun der Wirtschaft, wéi d'Gesondheetswiesen oder de Bau, einfach zesummebriechen.
▸Translation
Every morning more than two hundred thousand people get into their car or onto the train to come to work in Luxembourg from France, Belgium or Germany. These cross-border commuters make up roughly half of all employees in the country. Without them, entire sectors of the economy, such as healthcare or construction, would simply collapse.
De Grond fir dës Entwécklung ass virun allem finanziell. D'Léin zu Lëtzebuerg sinn däitlech méi héich wéi an de Nopeschregiounen, an de Mindestloun ass ee vun den héchsten an Europa. Zur selwechter Zäit sinn d'Wunnengspräisser am Grand-Duché sou deier ginn, datt vill Leit léiwer iwwer der Grenz wunnen a just fir d'Aarbecht erakommen.
▸Translation
The reason for this development is above all financial. Wages in Luxembourg are considerably higher than in the neighbouring regions, and the minimum wage is one of the highest in Europe. At the same time, housing prices in the Grand Duchy have become so expensive that many people prefer to live across the border and only come in for work.
Dës Situatioun bréngt awer och grouss Problemer mat sech. Muergens a mëttes stinn op den Autobunnen laang Stauen, an d'Zich sinn dacks iwwerfëllt. Vill Pendler verléieren all Dag zwou bis dräi Stonnen um Wee, wat op d'Dauer ustrengend a frustréierend ass. Fir dat ze verbesseren, huet de Staat den ëffentlechen Transport gratis gemaach an investéiert vill Geld an nei Zuchlinnen.
▸Translation
This situation, however, also brings big problems with it. In the morning and afternoon there are long traffic jams on the motorways, and the trains are often overcrowded. Many commuters lose two to three hours a day on the road, which in the long run is exhausting and frustrating. To improve this, the state has made public transport free and invests a lot of money in new rail lines.
D'Grenzgänger sinn awer net nëmmen Aarbechtskräften, mä si sinn e wichtegen Deel vum liewegen Austausch mat de Nopeschlänner. Vill vun hinne schwätze mat der Zäit e bësse Lëtzebuergesch, och wa Franséisch um Aarbechtsplaz meeschtens duergeet. Trotzdem gëtt dacks diskutéiert, ob et gerecht ass, datt si zwar hei Steiere bezuelen, mä bei de Wale net wiele dierfen.
▸Translation
The cross-border commuters are not just a workforce, though; they are an important part of the lively exchange with the neighbouring countries. Many of them come to speak a little Luxembourgish over time, even if French is usually enough at the workplace. Nevertheless it is often debated whether it is fair that they do pay taxes here but are not allowed to vote in the elections.
Fir d'Zukunft stellt sech d'Fro, wéi laang dëse Modell nach funktionéiere kann. Well ëmmer méi Leit iwwer der Grenz wunnen, wuessen och d'Käschte fir Stroossen, Schoulen a Crèchen an de Grenzregiounen. Lëtzebuerg a seng Nopere musse méi enk zesummeschaffen, fir gemeinsam Léisunge fir de Verkéier an de Wunnraum ze fannen.
▸Translation
For the future the question arises of how long this model can still work. Because more and more people live across the border, the costs for roads, schools and daycare centres in the border regions are also growing. Luxembourg and its neighbours have to cooperate more closely in order to find joint solutions for traffic and housing.
Glossary
- cross-border commuter
- commuter
- minimum wage
- wage, salary
- traffic jam
- overcrowded
- exhausting, strenuous
- workforce, labour
- to be enough, to suffice
- to collapse
- fair, just
- living space, housing
Comprehension
Wéi vill Grenzgänger kommen ongeféier all Dag op Lëtzebuerg schaffen?
Roughly how many cross-border commuters come to work in Luxembourg every day?
Wat ass de Haaptgrond, firwat esou vill Leit iwwer der Grenz wunnen a just fir d'Aarbecht erakommen?
What is the main reason so many people live across the border and only come in for work?
Iwwer wéi eng Ongerechtegkeet gëtt am Zesummenhang mat de Grenzgänger dacks diskutéiert?
Fir de Verkéier ze verbesseren, huet de Staat den ëffentlechen Transport gemaach.
To improve traffic, the state made public transport ___.