Austria: temporary work agencies angry at temporary work bill

Measures which could cost businesses a lot.  The temporary work bill, currently at the center of heated debates in Austria, should serve to transpose the directive on equal treatment between permanent and temporary workers (2008/104).  The Council of Ministers should adopt it on April 4 and the bill should come into force on July 1, 2012.  However, Austrian temporary work agencies are clamoring for amendments to be made to the bill.  As it is now, the bill provides that equal treatment will affect social benefits and working conditions.  If the text is adopted, temporary workers will have access to the same services and advantages as regular staff, such as childcare services, corporate cafeterias, as well as bonuses and profit-sharing.  Meanwhile, a new tax could be quite costly for the sector’s 1,200 businesses, which employ 80,000 people and sign about 250,000 contract a year.  Within the framework of the austerity program signed earlier in March, the Austrian government is indeed planning to add a €110 tax for the termination of a contract.  This would also apply if the temporary worker terminates his contract because he was hired with a permanent contract. 
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nts to be made to the bill. As it is now, the bill provides that equal treatment will affect social benefits and working conditions. If the text is adopted, temporary workers will have access to the same services and advantages as regular staff, such as childcare services, corporate cafeterias, as well as bonuses and profit-sharing. Meanwhile, a new tax could be quite costly for the sector’s 1,200 businesses, which employ 80,000 people and sign about 250,000 contract a year. Within the fram

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