Social Policy

Austria’s Plan for Gradually Dropping COVID Mitigations

June 30 is going to be the date when all COVID-19 Measures Will Drop in Austria. Health Minister Johannes Rauch and Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler confirmed this in a press conference.

February 4, 2023

Ankara and Vienna Sign Cooperation Agreement

The capitals of Austria and Turkey, Vienna and Ankara, will intensify their cooperation in the future. Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig received the Mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, in the City Hall. Both mayors signed a cooperation agreement to this effect in Vienna City Hall.

October 19, 2022

Displaced Persons From Ukraine Now Have Access to Family Allowance

Families displaced from Ukraine can now apply for Austrian family allowance. As a result of this announcement, a loophole in the law has been closed, making it possible for all Ukrainians in Austria to claim social benefits. It will be introduced in the National Council on Friday.

July 8, 2022

EU-Wide Minimum Wages: Kurz and Kocher Reluctant

Austria's Chancellor Kurz and Labor Minister Kocher took part at the EU social summit, which dealt with social injustice in all its facets. Among the possible measures to fight injustices, EU-wide minimum wages could be implemented, which would have an enormous impact on the economy.

May 11, 2021

Austria's Labor Minister Demands More Education and Training Opportunities

At an informal Employment and Social Affairs Council, Austria's Labor Minister Martin Kocher and his EU counterparts were discussing employment and social policies that address the recovery from the current crisis. Kocher emphasizes the need for education and training opportunities, which will proof to be useful for getting back to economic strength.

March 17, 2021

Kurz: "There is light at the end of the tunnel"

Today, Chancellor Kurz was holding a State of the Union Address and talked about the Coronavirus, special vacation for parents and a "pact against isolation". According to him, the next summer will be normal again. However, the time until then will be challenging.

August 28, 2020

Coronavirus in Austria: Update

The coronavirus pandemic has also hit Austria, and deaths and infections caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are still on the rise. New officially confirmed cases of disease are constantly being added. Despite this outbreak in Austria, the situation looks much worse elsewhere. In contrast, however, there are more than 610,797 deaths worldwide due to the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The Austrian health authorities are networked with the relevant bodies within the framework of WHO and EU membership and are in permanent coordination. The international authorities monitor current developments and address the member countries with the following recommendations.

July 20, 2020

Coronavirus in Lower Austria: Update

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has also hit Austria's largest federal state in terms of area, Lower Austria, hard and the number of infected cases is constantly increasing. Below we look at the official data of the Office of the Provincial Government of Lower Austria, and analyze the structure of deaths and infections both provincially (Bundesland) and by district (Bezirk). Questions and answers on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) below.

July 20, 2020

Tyrol Lifts Coronavirus-Quarantine

Tyrol is still under massive criticism and threat of a class action lawsuit from Germany and some Scandinavian countries because the authorities in the Tyrolean ski resort of Ischgl took quarantine measures very late, although warnings from these countries had already been issued. Today Tyrol's Governor Günther Platter announced during a video press conference that Tyrol would end its self-isolation.

April 6, 2020

Explosive Corona Papers: Tens of Thousands of Additional Deaths in Austria

An internal study prepared for the government by a commission of experts on the COVID19 crisis shows a gloomy forecast for Austria. The paper states that under the realistic assumption of a replication factor of 1.7 (i.e. 1 person infects 1.7 people), the Austrian health system will collapse. If it is not possible to push the replication factor below the value of 1, tens of thousands of additional deaths and a collapse of the health care system can be expected in Austria by mid-April.

April 1, 2020

Coronavirus Prohibitions in Austria - Which Shops and Services are still Open?

Many people are confused due to the short-term decision to prohibit access to the customer area of business premises of retail and service companies as well as leisure and sports businesses, and wonder which essential items and services of daily life are still available. Below is a current list in force since Monday, 16 March 2020.

March 17, 2020

COVID-19 Bill Adopted by National Council and Upper House of Parliament

Both the National Council and the Federal Council today approved the major legislative package to deal with the coronavirus crisis. The signing by the Federal President took already place this evening.

March 15, 2020

Austria: Green Light for Comprehensive Coronavirus Bill

The COVID 19 crisis management fund has been granted €4 billion. What specific measures are included in this package?

March 15, 2020 · Updated: March 15, 2020; 14:37

Austrian Province of Tyrol Orders Curfew

The province of Tyrol, which is particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, is imposing a curfew.

March 15, 2020

Austria Reports Second Death from COVID-19

In Vienna, the second person died from the consequences of the coronavirus.

March 15, 2020 · Updated: March 15, 2020; 12:06

State of Emergency in Austria: Federal Government Appeals to Population

The Federal Government informed about further necessary steps and the current situation regarding coronavirus. From Monday, March 16, 2020, social life will be reduced to a minimum. Air and train traffic to Switzerland, Spain and France will be suspended. Many shops will be closed, with the exception of those necessary for basic services. Public transport will be maintained. With a few exceptions, cafés, restaurants and bars will only be open until 3 p.m. from Monday onwards. Visitors are prohibited in all hospitals.

March 13, 2020

Austria Reports First Death from COVID-19

The first death in Austria due to the coronavirus was reported from Vienna today. A 69-year-old man died last night in the Kaiser-Franz-Josef Hospital.

March 12, 2020

Air Travel to Austria: Further Flights Stopped Due to COVID-19 Spread

To contain the coronavirus, direct flights from Austria to Iran, South Korea and the northern Italian airports of Bologna and Milan will be discontinued in the next two weeks. Passengers from third countries require a medical certificate. This was announced by the Federal Government during a press conference broadcast nationwide. Details as follows.

March 7, 2020

Red Cross Austria on Corona: Situation is Stable

The Austrian Red Cross has already carried out more than 500 infection transports and 800 coronavirus sample collections.

March 4, 2020

Coronavirus: Austria's "Containment Strategy"

The latest developments concerning the coronavirus were the dominant topic of today's debate in the Health Committee of the Austrian Parliament.

March 3, 2020

Corona Virus: Public Information Campaign Receives Good Response

So far there have been 2,120 tests in Austria, 16 of which have been positive. In addition, there are 350 isolation cases which are in quarantine.

March 2, 2020

Austria's Great Labour Unionist Rudolf Hundstorfer Deceased

The former head of the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (ÖGB) and social minister Rudolf Hundstorfer died at the age of 68 on holiday in Croatia due to a heart attack.

August 20, 2019

Paternity Leave Entitlement Decided by Parliament

Members of the Austrian National Council passed a resolution on the legal entitlement to Paternity Leave (Papamonat). Fathers now have the right to be granted time off. Changes have also been made to child benefit legislation.

July 5, 2019

Indexation of Family Benefits: "There are no second-class children in the EU"

The EC European Commission opens an infringement procedure against Austria, as it pays families less child benefit if their children live in another EU country with a lower cost of living.

January 24, 2019

Expat Advise: How Does the Austrian Tax and Social Security System Work?

If you are moving to Vienna as an expat or are already living here with employment income and want to find your way around the complicated Austrian tax and social security system, Vindobona recommends attending an interesting event organised by the Vienna Business Agency and Deloitte Austria.

March 22, 2018

Social Progress Index: Austria Ranked 13th

Austria has been ranked 13th by NGO Social Progress Imperative, in its Social Progress Index ranking. It precedes Japan and Germany and scored many points thanks to renewable energy projects. However, the state reveals shortages with respect to education, tolerance and equal opportunities. Nordic states, such as Finland, Canada and Denmark lead the index.

July 25, 2016

Vienna Real Estate Market Hopelessly Overstrained?

Real estate trustees in Vienna demand a limit to state-subsidized apartments and call for “unrestricted” rents.

April 23, 2014

Austrians Cautiously Observant

Despite economic recovery the Austrian citizens are still cautiously observant.

April 22, 2014

Slovakia as a Role Model?

In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschaftsblatt”, Tomas Malatinsky, Economy Minister of Slovakia, talked about budget discipline, investments and tax policy.

April 16, 2014

“Bank Rescue is a Crime”

Martin Ehrenhauser, leading candidate of the Austrian electorial alliance “Europa Anders”, which is running for the EU elections, has voiced harsh criticism about the saving of financial institutes.

April 14, 2014

Vucic: “Not Afraid of Social Riots”

The future Prime Minister of Serbia underlined the necessity of reforms.

April 10, 2014

Serbia: Vucic Rejects Single-Party Government

Aleksandar Vucic, leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and future Prime Minister, said on Tuesday that his party does not intend to govern on its own.

April 9, 2014

Hungarian Electorial Law Supports Major Parties

Orban is the clear winner of the parliamentary elections in Hungary. He stressed that there are no more conflicts with the EU than any other member state had.

April 7, 2014

Leitl: “Growth Must Not Mean Less Reforms”

Economic growth is now weaker than in the previous phases of upturn.

March 28, 2014

Poland to Fulfill EU Commission’s Regulations

According to Polish Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek, Poland will have no difficulties fullfilling the standards set by the European Commission with regard to the budget deficit.

March 27, 2014

Poland: Pension Reform Not to Affect Rating

According to rating agency Fitch, Poland’s country rating will not be affected by the pension reform.

March 25, 2014

Serbia to Continue Talks with IMF

Serbia's Minister of Finance Lazar Krstic announced that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will visit Serbia for talks on a new three-year arrangement shortly after a new government is formed.

March 21, 2014

Austria: Reform Steps Very Modest

Austria, along with Germany and Switzerland, hardly put any economic reforms into realization. This is the conclusion of the annual “reform barometer” for the three countries.

March 20, 2014

Serbia: Landslide Victory for Vucic

After Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic’s party saw an overwhelming victory in the early parliamentary elections the new government is facing a hard road ahead.

March 17, 2014

Serbia: Vucic Stands Good Chances of Becoming PM

Vucic is regarded new Serbian Prime Minister in the parliamentary elections.

March 15, 2014

Czech Republic: Raiffeisen Withdraws from Pension Insurance Business

Pension insurance company Raiffeisen penzijni spolecnost will terminate business activities on the Czech market for private pension schemes, as announced by the company in a press release.

March 4, 2014

“Croatia Going through Very Difficult Period“

The World Bank calls for structural reforms in the Western Balkan state.

January 27, 2014

Austria: Debt Rate Rises Unstoppably

In the third quarter last year the Austrian public debt rate increased significantly compared to the previous quarter.

January 22, 2014

Audit Court Criticizes Austrian Government Sharply

Josef Moser, president of the Austrian Audit Court, has sharply criticized the government’s resolution.

January 17, 2014

Austria: What Happened to the Budget Gap?

The question remains even after the government was confirmed and the first tax package presented.

January 16, 2014

„Such Growth Rates Will not Return“

In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, economist Karl Aiginger explains that the worst should be over. The reform pressure on the Austrian government is enormous.

December 30, 2013

Poland: Komorowski Approves Pension Reform

Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski has signed the nationalization act. However, he will send the law to the Constitutional Court.

December 28, 2013

Austria: Kapsch Delivers Warning to Policy-Makers

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), is very cautious about economic growth in Austria and warns the policy-makers of a budget consolidation on the basis of expectations of growth.

December 27, 2013

Poland: Parliament Approves Nationalization of Pension Fund

Today, the Polish Lower House approved the controversial pension reform. With the reform, the Polish pension system will be partly re-nationalized.

December 10, 2013

EU/CESEE: Real Income Shrinks

In 2013, the real income will do down in Austria. Since 2010, the Austrian real income was down by 1.3%. In Hungary, real income fell by 15% in that period.

December 9, 2013