Austria: two draft laws adopted to inject more flexibility into work and achieve a better work life balance

In the fight against rising unemployment and in an attempt to boost a flagging economy, ministers and experts from both parties in Austria’s coalition government at the close of the ‘Summit meeting for the economy and the jobs market’ that was held on 29 October, have come to an agreement over implementing an array of various measures including lowering employers social contributions, introducing a new bonus/malus system to boost hiring of the over 50s, and modifying the ‘All-in’ employment contract. On 03 November, the Minister for Employment and Social Affairs presented a draft law that aims to facilitate a better work life balance. All the measures are due to come into force on 01 January 2016. Planet Labor outlines the main points from both texts below making up the principal measures resulting from the ‘Summit meeting for the economy and the jobs market’.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

Lower social contributions for employers. This will take place in two stages. The first stage starts on 01 January 2016 and concerns contributions to the Bankruptcy Fund that finances a proportion of social plans and redeployment measures. Contribution levels will fall from 0.45% to 0.35%, which, according to Economics Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner, will be worth some €80 million. The second stage should represent total savings of some €790 million and concerns contributions to the Family Assi

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Spain: government and trade unions strike agreement on occupational risk prevention reform
The Spanish government and trade unions have agreed to revise workplace health and safety legislation to extend prevention protocols to cover psychosocial risks, as well as risks linked to climate...
11 February 2026
Solvay’s global digitalisation agreement incorporates issue of AI
On 15 December 2025, chemical company Solvay (9,000 employees) signed an addendum to its 2020 global agreement on digitalisation with its global forum and European works council. “The pace...
2026 TRENDS — Tackling skills shortages and mismatches
mind HR is analysing the trends that will shape 2026. Skills shortages have become a central challenge for businesses, reflecting deep-seated shifts in the labour market as roles evolve rapidly...
Italy: government kicks off transposition of EU Pay Transparency Directive
On 5 February, the Italian government approved legislation transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, designed to tackle gender pay discrimination — a particularly acute issue in Italy. The...
10 February 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
France: Crédit Agricole to tighten remote work rules
Crédit Agricole is to adopt stricter rules on remote work from mid-March onwards. The rules will be tightened for employees, but the maximum number of days working remotely will remain unchanged.
2
2026 TRENDS – Pay transparency becomes a reality for European companies
mind RH is taking a look at the trends that will shape 2026. Many countries remain behind schedule in transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, leaving companies in a state of uncertainty as...
27 January 2026
3
TRENDS IN 2026 — Reducing workplace absence at all costs: a major challenge for Europe
Workplace absence is on the rise across Europe, particularly among women, older employees and, since the Covid-19 pandemic, young people under the age of 30. Faced with this growing problem, some...
14 January 2026
4
Vincent Lecerf (Orange): “Equality and diversity are competitive advantages for us”
Following the signing of a new agreement on professional equality and diversity in December, the chief HR officer of French multinational telecommunications corporation Orange Group, Vincent...
13 January 2026
5
2026 TRENDS — Social dialogue, a major challenge in the deployment of AI in companies
mind RH is analysing the trends that will shape 2026. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a force that goes far beyond efficiency gains and productivity improvements. It is reshaping tasks...
4 February 2026
6
France: transposition of the pay transparency directive takes shape
The transposition of the European directive on pay transparency into French law is entering a decisive phase. The Minister of Labour, Jean-Pierre Farandou, wants to present the bill to Parliament...
21 January 2026