Sectors that are particularly affected by the pandemic, such as city hotels, night catering and aviation, are excluded, Brunner said on Monday at an online event. “Of course you have to look at the situation individually.” Where there is still a need for help, one is “open to talks”.
Transitional model with reduced head
Brunner now wants to “follow sustainable budget paths” and reduce debt. The Corona short-time work model was reformed in mid-2021, and since then two different models can be applied for. On the one hand there is an unchanged variant for companies that are particularly affected until the end of March 2022 and on the other hand there is a transitional model with a reduced amount of support until the end of June 2022. Companies can currently receive a maximum of two years in Corona short-time work subsidies. “We’re looking at the time limit,” said Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP).
Kocher wants to present the long-awaited reform of unemployment insurance in the first half of this year. There are no plans to abolish emergency aid. A parliamentary inquiry into the reform of unemployment insurance is planned for March 7th. The Minister of Labor wants to focus in particular on the amount of unemployment benefit and supplements, additional earnings and sanctions. As in the past, Kocher did not name any planned changes. “The overall package is decisive, so I’m not anticipating.” The aim of the reform is “to get people into employment more quickly”.
“Don’t underestimate the shortage of skilled workers”
In contrast to other countries in Europe, according to Kocher, many additional measures are financed from unemployment insurance in Austria, such as unemployment assistance, educational leave, partial retirement and training guarantee up to 25. That is why the contribution to unemployment insurance is “relatively high” at 6 percent of the monthly gross income. according to the Minister of Labour. The employer share is 3 percent and the employee share is 3 percent.
Kocher warned against underestimating the shortage of skilled workers and demographic change. The lack of skilled workers severely restricts the growth prospects of the Austrian economy and due to demographics there will probably be a shortage of workers “in the low five-digit range” in the future. According to the Labor Minister, this could be cushioned by, among other things, later retirement and qualification measures.
Source: Nachrichten
