The Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce wants a rapid reform of the red-white-red card and has also brought the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor on board to develop a proposal for this. The common goal: to get the labor shortage in Upper Austria under control.
The pleasingly low unemployment rate in most districts of Upper Austria also has a downside. Many companies no longer get the staff they would need to process their orders. “If we want to bring home the growth potential of four to five percent, we need more people with whom we can do it. That endangers prosperity,” says Upper Austria’s WK President Doris Hummer in an interview with the OÖ Nachrichten.
Lots of older workers
Since the demographics do not promise any relaxation, but rather baby boomers are heading towards retirement, additional workers from abroad are needed. Which is not a problem for EU citizens, but very much so for citizens from third countries. The red-white-red card was introduced for their at least temporary immigration. But the successes are modest. Despite multiple changes, the numbers are low. In Upper Austria in 2021 (excluding December) 36 people received the card as “highly qualified”, 237 cards were issued for employees in specially defined shortage occupations, 140 for so-called key workers. “The process has to become even simpler, it also needs a functioning digital process. After all, not only professional athletes and opera singers should have the opportunity to work here,” says Hummer.
AK President Andreas Stangl is in favor of experts developing a concept for improvement. “A reform shouldn’t bring cheap labor into the country. But it’s also not okay if workers stop going on vacation because there aren’t enough people,” says Stangl, who wants parallel measures for the long-term unemployed.
The Ministry of Labour, which shares responsibility with the Ministry of the Interior, points out that the government program provides for a reform of the card. So far, however, there has been no time for this, according to the cabinet of Labor Minister Martin Kocher.
Source: Nachrichten
