Image: VOLKER Weihbold
“Specifically, we will reduce the chamber levies by twelve percent as of January 1, 2024. That corresponds to around 35 million euros. A good chunk, but it is possible,” Mahrer told the business magazine “trend”. With his announcement, Mahrer is reacting to the fact that fees have risen sharply due to high inflation. However, financial leeway has also been created through “increases in efficiency”.
Mahrer – he is also President of the ÖVP Economic Association – combines the employer representation’s step with the call for fee reductions in other areas as well. “If we can do it, every other public institution should be able to do it too. I also see our stance as a signal that something like this should be possible throughout the entire republic,” said Mahrer.
The former economics minister addresses the additional wage costs: “If these were to fall by ten percent in total, for example, that would be 4.2 to 4.5 billion euros, which could be used to sustainably relieve the burden on companies in the current difficult situation. Best combined with further reductions in taxes and fees that the public sector could decide on.” This could be compensated for on the expenditure side: “The question must be asked: Does everything that is done have to be done? In a brutally competitive situation for companies, everyone has to do their homework.”
Source: Nachrichten
