Calls for independent probe: Trade unions question Big Four record profits amid job cuts and rising pressure
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At a recent roundtable discussion in Luxembourg, trade unions stated they do not seek to stir controversy or attack the audit firms directly, but feel compelled to draw urgent attention to the working conditions experienced by employees in the so-called Big Four consulting and audit firms: PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, and EY. Union representatives argued that, despite the enormous financial success of these companies, staff cuts have become commonplace, employees are exposed to constant pressure, and breaches of labour law occur far too often. Angélique Lazzara, Secretary at the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL), noted that these profits are repeatedly celebrated as new records year after year, even as working conditions deteriorate. According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC) referenced by Lazzara, the number of employees in Luxembourg's audit firms has decreased by 8% over the past two years. Deloitte and KPMG have seen reductions of 6% to 8%, while PwC's workforce has shrunk by 14%, which equals to a total loss of 530 jobs across the sector, according to Lazzara. Despite these job losses, reported revenues at the Big Four remain at an all-time high: PwC reported €765 million, KPMG €373 million, and Deloitte €535 million. Lazzara questioned how profits keep reaching such levels despite staff numbers dropping...
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