Austria: gradual retirement remains under threat

Last week, Austrian social affairs minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) announced in the media that part-time working for seniors (Altersteilzeit), also known as “gradual retirement” and available at the earliest five years before the legal retirement age, would not be abolished but would be reformed. “It is an important model for enabling people who would otherwise leave the labour force to remain active for longer.” the minister told the Mittagsjournal. Introduced in 2000, this scheme benefits...