This is made possible for young people who do not have access to the AMS because they cannot work. This means that the mandatory skills test may only take place at the age of 25. Minister Martin Kocher announced on Tuesday that the law would be amended and would come into effect on January 1 (see video above). However, for the time being it will not be possible to take full advantage of the offer.
The pension insurer determines whether someone is fit for work or not. If this is not the case, access to the AMZ is also missing. Under current regulations, those affected cannot participate in training and qualification measures and would later not be entitled to unemployment benefits.
Young people with disabilities should have this access now – by raising the age for mandatory testing to 25. Currently, the exam usually takes place at the age of 15. Persons under the age of 25 can still start a determination procedure on a voluntary basis.
“By ensuring that young people and young adults under the age of 25 are not prematurely declared unfit for work, we promote inclusion and participation in the labor market,” said Minister of Labor and Economy Kocher.
Law in force from January, gradual completion
The bill is a “paradigm change,” Kocher said. The completion will now take place gradually. The law will come into effect on January 1, 2024, but the offer cannot be fully used until later. At the same time, the AMS will not be able to offer a measure that suits everyone’s wishes.
Therefore, additional support is still needed from the federal states. The ministry currently does not know how many additional people will be reported to the AMS as part of the change in law. But the budget remains ready: next year 50 million euros will be available for this project.
Looking for a job takes almost twice as long
“The job search for job seekers with health limitations is anything but easy. This is evident from the fact that on average they search for a job for almost twice as long,” emphasizes Petra Draxl, board member of AMS. She notes that more and more companies are saying: ‘We do not want to pay the compensation tax’ and that we must therefore support people with disabilities in the labor market with retraining measures, wage subsidies and integration subsidies.
AI and exoskeletons as “game changers”
“No one can afford to miss out on 15 percent of the talent pool or 15 percent of potential customers,” emphasized Gregor Demblin, Managing Director of myAbility, taking into account the 15 percent of people in Austria who have a disability. “We have to be inclusive to be economically successful,” Demblin said. ‘Game changers’ here are technological tools such as exoskeletons or artificial intelligence.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
