Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) understands the industry’s desire for a 41-hour working week. “If we want to maintain our prosperity, we must work more, not less,” she said on Tuesday. “Left-wing dreams” about reducing working hours “will not work.”
“More rather than less will be needed,” Edtstadler said at an event at the Haus der Industrie. Her office told the ‘Krone’ in the afternoon that the minister was “clearly against a reduction in working hours”, but that this should not be interpreted as a commitment to a 41-hour working week. More incentives must be created so that people “all come to work and fully engage and performance finally becomes worthwhile again”. The recipes she has in mind are a reduction in indirect wage costs, a full-time bonus and tax-free overtime.
Declaration of war on “high wage agreements” and “countless vacation days”
Edtstadler sees another problem in the “high wage agreements”. The point is not to put further pressure on the economy. That is why she also withdrew the national climate plan of her colleague Leonore Gewessler (Greens). This was not coordinated and contained unilateral measures, some of which would not have been in Austria’s interests.
The discussion about extension of working hours without wage compensation was initiated by the trade association. Secretary General Christoph Neumayer also spoke on Monday about an “innumerable number of public holidays” in Austria – an issue that needs to be addressed.
The union and the SPÖ are on the fence
There was immediate criticism from the union and the SPÖ. This is an “insult to the workers who, through their willingness to perform, have made our country one of the richest in Europe,” said GPA president Barbara Teiber. From their point of view, shorter working hours would be fair.
SPÖ federal director Klaus Seltenheim made a similar statement, saying he sees “the next attack on workers.” Companies have benefited enormously from increased productivity over the past decades, and workers should “finally get a piece of the pie.” In keeping with the party line, Seltenheim campaigned for a further reduction in working hours and a four-day working week.
“Get rid of working hours and don’t increase them”
Federal Director of ÖGB, Ingrid Reischl, reacted “shocked” to Edtstadler’s new statements: “The fact that the federal government is now joining the chorus led by the industrial association and also calling for an extension of working hours is completely absurd. The motto should be: shorten working hours and not extend them.”
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.
