On 17 July 2025, the Austrian Federal Council (Bundesrat) adopted the bill introducing the new partial retirement scheme by a two-thirds majority. This vote, which follows approval by the lower house, the National Council (Nationalrat), on 7 July, concludes the legislative process for the bill. The legislation’s flagship measure will allow employees to take partial retirement from 2026, reducing their working hours by 25%, 50% or 75%. Such arrangements are optional and require the employer’s ag
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As a Berlin correspondent for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business and labour market. My areas of interest include co-determination, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.