Salaries in the public sector are not particularly attractive, especially at first, but increase significantly over the years. To make the system fairer, Civil Service Minister Werner Kogler (Greens) now wants to radically change it – with better starting salaries and a flattening of the salary curve.
Discussions are currently underway with coalition partner ÖVP and the union, it was said. However, it is unclear whether the reform will take place before the elections. The “Salzburger Nachrichten” previously reported on the plans.
Kogler wants to modernize the scheme
The planned reform aims to modernize the remuneration system for contract staff and civil servants. Specifically, a significant increase in starting salaries of up to nine percent and a flatter increase later in the career are planned. In addition, the various professional groups should be reflected in a common salary scheme, it was said.
Existing employees have freedom of choice
According to Kogler’s plans, the new service law should apply to all newcomers to the public service. Existing employees must have the freedom to choose the new system or remain in the old one. According to the ministry’s estimates, 30,000 employees could take advantage of the option and switch to the new salary scale.
Moreover, around 15,000 to 20,000 people are likely to be recruited over the next five years. The ministry declined to provide information on the costs of the reform, citing ongoing discussions.
Better salaries as an incentive to become a member
The Green-led ministry pointed out that the creation of a uniform, modern and transparent service law for all new employees with a flattened salary curve and constant income throughout life is part of the government program. Due to the ongoing wave of retirements among the baby boomer generation, the federal government is faced with the challenge of filling numerous positions, the report said. More than 40,000 people in the executive and military branches will retire over the next five years, and in the administrative service this is expected to be a quarter of employees.
As of December 31, 2022, there were a total of 135,357 full-time jobs in the public service. A third of federal employees are teachers and more than a quarter are police officers. The third largest workforce is the federal military, with about 15 percent.
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.
