Postal service guaranteed five days a week

Post is to continue to be delivered to homes five days a week despite the privatisation of Luxembourg postal services, a draft law has decreed.

The bill, which was almost unanimously approved by members, paves the way for opening up the distribution of shipments weighing below 50 grams to competition from private operators from 2013.

Under the law, state-owned operator P&T will continue to operate a universal service for the next seven years, and will have to ensure that mail is delivered five days a week.

A sixth day of postal services was ruled out as it would cost an additional 9 million euros per year.

The European directive, which prompted the law in Luxembourg, provides accompanying measures to finance this "universal public service.” In Luxembourg, it takes the form of a special compensation fund.