The new Austrian government that came out of the election of September 29 has been in force since Monday, December 16. The previous Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, M. Rudolf Hundstorfer, is keeping his position. In the social sphere, the federal government’s “working program” for 2013/18 provides for the introduction of a training obligation for people under the age of 18 starting in 2016/17, easier access to a 6th week of annual leave, measure to increase real retirement age (bonus-penalty system upon recruitment), as well as the end of fiscal relief on the retiring bonuses and remuneration of managers above €500,000 per annum. The issue of moving to a 12-hour working day, one of the biggest claims for employers and the conservative party (ÖVP) during the election campaign, was settled in a compromise allowing daily working periods of up to 12 hours but without exceeding 50 hours a week. (Ref. 130807)
Former government renewed. The election of September 29 was characterized by a rise in the populist and far-right political parties, but not enough to question the majority held by the two main parties, the conservatives (ÖVP) and the socialists (SPÖ), already in power as part of a “grand coalition.” Therefore, the country remains in the same hands. SPÖ leader Werner Faymann remains Federal Chancellor. His conservative colleague, Michael Spindelegger, remains vice-chancellor and goes...
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