While the parties are preparing for the election campaign behind the scenes, the government still wants to continue with the remaining black-green program. It also includes new measures to combat the shortage of skilled workers. The number of red-white-red cards must be doubled within four years and the duration of the procedure must be halved within one year.
The deadline for bringing forward the National Council elections to EU election day on June 9 has passed since last week. The hotly debated Super Election Sunday is now off the table. The Black and Green federal government is apparently using this as an opportunity to actually work until the likely election date of September 29 – especially at the Ministry of Labor.
Due to the increasingly acute shortage of skilled workers, Minister Martin Kocher wants and must continue to recruit more workers from abroad. This is particularly anticipated in so-called focus countries, including Albania, Kosovo, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brazil.
Last year 8079 cards were issued
In order for skilled workers from third countries to be allowed to work in Austria, they must first receive a red-white-red card. Last year, 8,079 of these cards were distributed. A value that Kocher would like to double in the next four years. At the same time, the duration of the procedure at the employment service should be halved in just one year compared to the current average of 25 days.
Recognition planning tool
As the “Krone” has learned, both interested skilled workers and local companies will have greater planning certainty in the future for the recognition of qualifications, such as training completed abroad, by skilled workers thanks to a new planning tool.
More than 200,000 vacancies in 2023
“The high demand for skilled labor is one of the most pressing challenges for domestic companies, and is likely to increase further in the next upturn,” Kocher said. According to estimates from Statistics Austria, the number of open vacancies is likely to average more than 200,000 by 2023. At the end of February, 90,329 vacancies had been registered with the employment service.
On Monday, Kocher wants to present his new measures and especially the new tool for more planning certainty.
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.
