The federal government had announced that it would pay workers in the health and care sector an additional monthly salary as a bonus this year. This turned out to be 2000 euros gross or 1200 euros net, which should be paid with the December salary. This was criticized and individual federal states considered additional payments. Lower Austria is now starting: Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner announced on Monday morning that she would add another 500 euros net, in December there will be a one-off payment of 1700 euros net. “We take promises seriously. We do this because we are aware of what the employees in the care and support space do every day,” said Mikl-Leitner.
In general, the state of Lower Austria wants to make medical and nursing professions more attractive. The introduction phase will be canceled: in the future, midwives and home helpers will receive 100 percent of their salary instead of the previous 90 percent. In addition, a new Hospital Doctors Act strengthens the competitiveness of doctors. The costs amount to about eleven million euros per year. The decision is scheduled for the next session of the state parliament.
As of September 2021, the introductory phase for the professions of licensed nurses, nurse specialists and nursing assistants in the Lower Austrian State Health Service (LGA) will no longer apply. According to the broadcast, this model is now being extended to other professions, including people in the medical technical services and medical assistant professions. The measures should enter into force on January 1, 2023 and apply retroactively from September 1, 2022, an LGA spokesperson said on request.
“At the same time, we are reforming the Lower Austrian Law on Hospital Doctors, in which we are improving and expanding the financial framework for general practitioners, specialists and senior doctors, as well as key activities in clinics,” said LGA board member Konrad Kogler.
This should also ensure personnel capacities in the field of palliative care, the geriatric and interdisciplinary admission center and the emergency doctors. “By developing the existing salary structure, we have now created a good financial basis for everyone and especially for the younger generation of specialists in our state. In addition, we have agreed good conditions for general practitioners in public service through a better base salary and special, technical responsible fees,” said the Vice-President of the Lower Austrian Medical Association, Wolfgang Walentich.
This means that Lower Austria “compared to other federal states is well equipped to keep medical staff in the country for a working life”. For the central works council member Gottfried Urlaub, the measures are “another important step in positioning us as an attractive employer”.
Source: Krone
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