The outgoing director of the Chamber of Labour, Christoph Klein, is demanding a fixed price for mineral oils from Economic Affairs Minister Martin Kocher. The Ministry of Economic Affairs must check whether the current fuel prices are justified. If this is not the case, the price commission, composed of the ministries of agriculture, social affairs, finance and economy, as well as representatives of the social partners, can set an economically justifiable price. This is achieved by applying for a prize at the AK.
Such an application was last submitted in 2008 for food. This time you try it with the product where the price increase is most obvious, Klein emphasized on Tuesday. Such a procedure is not possible for gas and electricity prices.
“This is not communism,” Klein clarified to journalists during a conversation on the occasion of his retirement at the end of the month. “With all our sympathy for the market economy, we believe that in some situations politics should intervene.” While the price increases for natural gas or wheat are partly related to a shortage, there are price increases for electricity or oil that should not be as high as so small. A fixed price for mineral oils would also reduce inflation. A liter is currently around 20 cents too expensive.
Fight against inflation: ‘More sustainability, fewer one-off payments’
He was dissatisfied with the price increases in Vienna. However, Wien Energie is having a harder time than energy companies in other federal states. Verbund AG covers much larger parts of its hydropower generation and is therefore less affected by high gas prices. The AK director was basically satisfied with the federal government’s fight against inflation. However, “more sustainability and fewer one-off payments” is needed.
Volunteer work in childcare from September
Incidentally, the AK director, who will retire on September 1, would like to do voluntary work in childcare in the future. His plan is to complete the psychotherapeutic training he has already started and then work as a psychotherapist. Since he came into contact with “the weaknesses of the system” during his time at the main association, he also wants to help in this area to do something against the “bureaucratic madness”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
