In its last session before the summer, the Austrian Parliament voted to extend early retirement for hard work, on January 1, 2015, to construction workers only. Employees may retire when they turn 58 and enjoy “transitional retirement” paid for by employers and employees. A bonus system, which businesses will get as well, will be set up in 2017 for those who keep working until the end. The Minister for Social Affairs and Employment encourages the social partners in the tourism industry to negotiate a similar system. (Ref. 130460)
Social partners acknowledge that work is too hard. In 2007, Austria had already adopted a general law introducing a similar early retirement system from the age of 60 in the event of ascertained hardness at work. However, a majority of the 90,000 construction workers is forced to stop working earlier, which has a major impact on their pension level. “Many construction workers can’t even get to early retirement age and stop working before they turn 60.
Do you have information to share with us?