The removal of the rigid quota system is acclaimed. It took the Austrian government two years to keep the promise it made in 2008 when it was established, to modernize the system for the immigration of workers. Last year, the Ministers for Domestic and Social Affairs, Mrs. Maria Fekter (ÖVP) and Mr. Rudolf Hundstorfer (SPÖ) commissioned a committee composed of union and employers’ representatives to present a compromise on the project of the “red-white-red” card. The committee presented the outcome of his work on Monday, October 19th. The Ministers said they were satisfied with this project, which will be gradually enforced by May 2011, when the Austrian labor market fully opens to the citizens of the ten new EU Member States. So far, Austria operated with a rather rigid and extremely limited quota system. Thus, last year, the Council of Minister established the quota for non-EU skilled workers to 8,145 places. However, this quota also included these workers’ family members, i.e. 4,905 places out of 8,145. in fact, the immigration of third-country nationals only accounts for a small part of foreign workers coming to work in Austria, i.e. a little over 3,000 workers out of about 20,000 foreign workers. More than 50% of these are from the EU, mostly Germany. Surveys show that about 70% of Austrian people approve the introduction of the new card. Only the leaders of the people’s party (FPÖ) said that the “red-white-red” card of “African card” (Afrika-Karte).
d with a rather rigid and extremely limited quota system. Thus, last year, the Council of Minister established the quota for non-EU skilled workers to 8,145 places. However, this quota also included these workers’ family members, i.e. 4,905 places out of 8,145.
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