The labour inspectorate imposed around 7.6m in fines in 2025, down sharply from the previous year, as labour minister Marc Spautz and ITM director Marco Boly defended a broader shift towards prevention, voluntary compliance and guidance for businesses.
Labour minister Marc Spautz and Inspectorate of Labour and Mines director Marco Boly used the presentation of the ITM’s 2025 annual report on Monday morning to defend a prevention-first reform of the labour inspectorate, even as the administration continued large-scale enforcement activity across labour law, workplace safety and posting rules.
The Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) imposed around 7.6m in fines in 2025, down roughly 44% from the previous year, according to figures presented during the press conference. Boly said inspection activity had nevertheless been maintained or slightly increased despite the reduction in sanctions, which the administration presented as evidence of a deliberate shift towards prevention and voluntary compliance rather than weaker enforcement.
“The question often raised in public debate is whether to educate or sanction,” Spautz said. “The answer is clear: these two approaches should not be opposed, but intelligently combined.” He said the reform under preparation would strengthen the ITM’s role in information, prevention and support for businesses while preserving its ability to sanction serious breaches of labour and workplace-safety law.
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