Austria urgently needs skilled workers. The government is trying to attract qualified workers from abroad with 15,000 red-white-red cards. Far too little, says WKO president Harald Mahrer, who sees the reason for this as fear for his own electorate.
Chairman of the Economic Chamber Harald Mahrer calls on the government to take more measures to combat the shortage of skilled workers. “For our country to continue to function as we are used to, we need 50,000 to 70,000” red-white-red cards, Mahrer said in an interview with “Kurier”.
The WKO boss also called for a realignment of the “compass” towards the “Krone” – namely “towards performance and success”. In conversation with [Krone+] He outlined what could improve Austria’s competitiveness, beyond skilled immigration.
Mahrer criticizes the government’s caution
If the government gets its way, at least 15,000 people should receive such work permits for third-country nationals every year by 2027.
“If I know that I have 200,000 open vacancies and that I will need another 300,000 jobs in the next fifteen years because of the aging society, then I cannot ignore that,” Mahrer criticized. There is a “deep-seated fear of foreign infiltration in this country,” the WKO president continued to the “Kurier.”
“Now you take a tool like the RWR map and put the number 15,000 on it, hoping that no one panics.”
Germany as a role model
Germany “tripled the Western Balkans contingent overnight to bring these people into the country,” Mahrer referred to the neighboring country. “We must also invite these people to become part of the labor market,” the WKO chairman emphasized. “At the same time, we must take care of those who want to come to Austria with their families to work and live here, without lifting a hand.”
The PVV cannot do much with the question. “The necessary requirements of the red-white-red card are constantly being reduced by the black-green government and the shortage of skilled workers is still not decreasing,” said FPÖ social spokeswoman Dagmar Belakowitsch.
Likewise, an increase in the red-white-red cards would promote “wage and social dumping”. She was referring to Austrian citizens who have been dismissed due to their age and are urgently looking for a job.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
