Access to the Red-White-Red Card is made easier. The National Council decided on Wednesday afternoon against the votes of the SPÖ and the PVV. Specifically, the required income levels will be lowered and English skills upgraded. The Red-White-Red Card regulates the immigration of skilled workers from countries outside the EU.
SPÖ mandate Verena Nußbaumer spoke of kneeling before the economy. The pressure on employees will continue to increase. Closing gaps instead of solving problems, stated FPÖ mandate Peter Wurm. He is against further immigration and against expanding the training of skilled workers in Austria.
NEOS calls for further steps
On behalf of the ÖVP, Klaus Fürlinger emphasized that companies, regardless of their size, urgently needed skilled workers. Now obstacles would be removed and procedures speeded up. The Green Georg Bürstmayr spoke of sensible steps. NEOS mandate Gerald Loacker agreed, though he wanted further steps to cut red tape and speed things up. Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) sees a simpler and less bureaucratic way for qualified immigration.
Lower Income Limits, English Equals German
Money is one of the issues. In the future, a minimum salary of 50 percent of the ASVG maximum premium income (instead of 60 percent) will be sufficient for the Red-White-Red Card. This is currently only the case for people under 30. For 2022 this would result in a gross monthly salary of 2835 euros. The minimum wage for graduates of local universities and colleges will be completely abolished.
Knowledge of English is equated with knowledge of German, provided that the working language in the company is English. Barriers to foreign start-up founders are reduced by reducing the required share capital from 50,000 to 30,000 euros.
There will also be permanent access to the labor market for registered regular seasonal workers who, irrespective of their age or qualifications, have performed more than seven months of seasonal work in tourism or agriculture for at least two years. Requirements are German language skills at A2 level and permanent employment.
Source: Krone
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