Austria’s social partners only managed to secure one of two of the government’s goals set in January 2017. On 30 June representatives from the employers and trade unions presented their agreement on introducing a universal minimum wage of €1,500 per month by 2020. However agreement was out of reach over the issue of making working time more flexible. The unions refused to accept “changing overtime hours into normal working hours” without securing anything in return. Employers believe that economic intransigence on this issue is a major factor hindering growth. Yet despite all this the social partners are still purport to do their best to avoid State intervention on the issue.
Two demands within a single agreement. In January 2017 the ruling Government coalition comprising the socialist SPÖ and conservative ÖVP parties announced a long list of measures aimed at stimulating the country’s economy and boosting employment (c.f. article No. 10047). The coalition called on the social partners to take up both issues addressing the minimum wage and flexible working time.
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