“We can currently make an offer to every long-term unemployed person,” said Kocher on the subject of the labor market. “Anyone can get something, get it very quickly.”
In addition to the approximately 114,000 vacancies, there are further training opportunities and the “springboard” program for the long-term unemployed. The companies are granted a wage subsidy of 50 percent. He does not consider a continuation of the increased emergency allowance necessary, with reference to the sharply falling unemployment figures after the corona pandemic. “We are now in a position on the labor market to make an offer to all the long-term unemployed, I do not see the great need,” said the minister on Saturday.
Regarding the shortage of skilled workers, Kocher noted that the government is planning to relax the seasonal regulations. Regular seasonal workers should therefore no longer fall below the quota for the maximum number of seasonal workers.
Discussions about 3G rule in the workplace
Regarding changes in unemployment benefits – a degressive model is being discussed, i.e. first a little more, then a little less net replacement rate than currently, Kocher said that there is already a step model with unemployment benefits and emergency assistance. Regarding a reduction below the current 55 percent replacement rate in the final phase of a further tiered unemployment benefit, he said: “I cannot imagine that we will go much below that.” In principle, Kocher stated about the planned labor market package: “A little fairy dust will not be enough.”
To consider introducing a 3G rule in the workplace, Kocher referred to ongoing discussions in which the social partners are also involved. He recalled that under Austrian labor law a dismissal can be made without giving reasons – with a few exceptions. The labor law experts agree that a permanent test refusal “would of course be a reason for a dismissal”.
Criticism from FPÖ and Neos
Criticism of such considerations came again on Saturday from FPÖ social spokeswoman Dagmar Berlakowitsch: “ÖVP labor minister Kocher should rather take care of new jobs and not think about 3G or even 2G in the workplace.” Instead, framework conditions must be created quickly that give companies planning security. Berlakowitsch rejects a degressive working model as a “neoliberal simple solution”.
Again, Neos economic and social spokesman Gerald Loacker missed clear announcements: “As courageous and concrete as the statements made by Martin Kocher as a work expert were, they are now as vague as a politician.” There is plenty to discuss and implement in order to effectively counteract the labor shortage. Short-time working, for example, should be ended because, in Loacker’s opinion, it is now slowing the upswing on the labor market. Many industries are desperately looking for workers “who are held elsewhere for tax money in short-time work,” he argued.
