Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) announced his goals for the Public Employment Service (AMS) on Wednesday, defining four main goals. However, special attention should be paid to placement in full-time positions – also beyond national borders.
As an example, the move from Vienna to Western Austria is mentioned, where there are particularly many vacancies. In this way, federal and state-specific personnel shortages should be better accommodated in the future. But the transfer of people from the EU will also increase.
Kocher stressed to representatives of the social partners and the AMS that efficient mediation is also linked to sanctions. In particular, abuse of sick leave and disincentives to work related to the combination of marginal work and benefits should be prevented.
Goals can be divided into four sub-areas
Qualification offers in future sectors – such as the environment, digitization, technology, but also in the fields of care and social affairs – should be promoted. According to the Minister of Labour, the AMS early warning system, work foundations, qualification grants for workers and advice for companies should be given even more importance.
The range tailored to target groups is being expanded, Kocher specifically mentions five areas: the long-term unemployed, young people and young adults, women, asylum seekers and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, and people with disabilities. And finally, the AMS organization needs to be further developed.
First goal since 2018
The last general goals were set in 2018. “Today, the structure of the labor market and location are different from five years ago. That’s why it’s important to redefine the common goals of the Department of Labor and the AMS,” says Kocher.
At the beginning of this week, the Minister of Labor and Economic Affairs announced that the AMS should place unemployed people with a small additional income in jobs above the marginal income threshold more quickly, with stricter control and sanction options. At the same time, companies that employ a striking number of unemployed minors must be subject to stricter controls.
Sigrid Maurer speaks of intimidation
However, Kocher’s decree drew criticism from the coalition partner. Club boss Sigrid Maurer described parts of the decree on Tuesday in “ZiB2” as harassment, the minister is particularly concerned about the headlines. The Greens would “take a close look” at the measure. You must “take note” of Kocher’s decision.
The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) welcomed the new goals for the AMS. Above all, they support the focus on placing the unemployed quickly on vacancies and the goal of promoting needs-based and job-related qualifications. “Even in the current difficult economic times, our companies are facing a massive shortage of labor and skilled labor that needs to be addressed. It is time to use all opportunities and strengthen employment incentives,” IV Secretary General Christoph Neumayer said in a press release.
Source: Krone
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