2024-09-18 20:41:32
As a fourth legislative package, the National Council has today meeting an extensive Amendment to the Civil Service Act for the public service. In addition to the ÖVP and the Greens, the SPÖ also voted for the bill presented by the coalition parties. It was the 933rd and probably also the last legislative decision in this legislative period, unless the National Council convenes a special session. An amendment was also taken into account in the vote: Among other things, it provides for a – slight – reduction in the teaching obligation for teachers at general compulsory schools who support the school principal with administrative tasks.
The amendment brings “important improvements” and is a building block for making public service more attractive, stressed State Secretary Andrea Mayer.
However, a resolution by the SPÖ calling for a package of measures to sustainably increase the attractiveness of the police profession did not receive a majority.
Amendment to the Civil Service Act brings numerous changes
The content of the approved civil service amendment ranges from compulsory management training for managers in the federal service to an adaptation of the tendering law and better pay for health and nursing staff in prisons and in correctional facilities. In addition, in line with the private sector, public employees will also be given the opportunity to accompany their (minor) child to an inpatient rehabilitation stay for up to four weeks. For the first time, the secondary employment of contract employees will also be regulated. Measures to combat corruption based on recommendations from the Council of Europe’s GRECO group of states and improvements in travel allowance rates are also part of the package.
In the school sector, the MPs have, among other things, introduced better pay for teaching in German language support classes as well as service and salary regulations to accompany the recently agreed further development of teacher training. For example, teachers who enter the profession after completing their bachelor’s degree and complete their master’s degree alongside their job may in principle only be employed to the extent of half of their teaching obligation and may not be employed as class teachers unless they themselves expressly request otherwise. Likewise, they may only be employed in subjects in which they have a bachelor’s degree and cannot be called upon to perform additional services on a permanent basis. However, the relief is limited in time, and at the same time the human resources department can demand proof of academic success.
If the teachers concerned commit to completing the master’s degree part-time within five years, they will be placed in the pay group pd. In addition, it will be easier to switch to teaching at special schools. Another new feature is that school principals will be able to choose their own replacement in the future, unless the federal states in their area of responsibility stipulate a different regulation.
In the short term, a relief measure for school principals was also incorporated into the draft law: According to this, the teaching obligation for teachers at general compulsory schools who support the school management in administration will be reduced by half an hour per week per class. However, this is only possible for a maximum of two teachers. Another point in the amendment submitted by the ÖVP and the Greens concerns the indicative use of the federal government’s new crisis coordinator, although according to the explanations, only formal adjustments will be made.
No approval from the FPÖ
The FPÖ did not agree to this legislative package. Werner Herbert (FPÖ) said that “not everything in the amendment was so bad”, but that the amendment contained a “declaration of mistrust” of public servants “on a large scale” through EU requirements regarding conflicts of interest. A “general suspicion of all civil servants” could “always lead to a conflict of interest”, said Herbert. He also criticised the fact that changes to the Federal Equal Treatment Act with regard to definitions of gender roles were “going in the wrong direction”. His FPÖ parliamentary colleague Markus Leinfellner also saw only “little improvement” from the amendment, which he believed had “gone wrong” because, for example, no solutions had been found for existing salary differences in the Federal Army.
ÖVP and Greens: Amendment contains “comprehensive package”
Representatives of the governing parties stressed that this civil service amendment is a comprehensive package. It brings “really good improvements” especially for teachers, stressed Eva Blimlinger (Greens).
The public service must continue to be designed in such a way that it is a promising employer in the future, stressed Romana Deckenbacher (ÖVP), who introduced the amendment. She also pointed out that the Federal Equal Treatment Act contains a passage that her parliamentary group does not support, but that compromises were needed to implement this “comprehensive package”. Johann Weber (ÖVP) said that the adoption of this package shows that work will be done “until election day”. Gertraud Salzmann (ÖVP) regretted that the negotiations on this civil service amendment – which has been on the table since 2023 – could not be concluded earlier. However, it has now been possible to separate a part from this amendment, which will now be adopted. She named the relief package for teachers as an important and essential part of the amendment.
SPÖ underlined demands for “right to analogue life” and for more police officers
The SPÖ is giving its approval to this package because it contains a number of improvements, said Selma Yildirim (SPÖ). She stressed that a well-equipped public administration is needed and underlined the SPÖ’s demand for a “right to analogue life”. Accordingly, personal contact between authorities and citizens must be guaranteed in the future and must not be replaced by digital processes. The amendment contains many good things, but can only be a start, said Petra Tanzler (SPÖ), because sustainable solutions and an overall strategy are needed, especially for the education sector, she demanded.
SPÖ MP Reinhold Einwallner pushed for a package of measures to make the police profession more attractive. Despite a personnel offensive, Austria is still short of 4,000 “serviceable police officers,” he argued. In order to attract more qualified applicants, comprehensive changes to service law are needed. The motion remained in the minority with the votes of the SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS and was thus rejected.
NEOS: Criticism of the lack of salary reform
Martina Künsberg Sarre (NEOS) criticized that such a comprehensive package was only sent to the opposition parties “at the last minute”. The amendment also contains good things, such as the protection of young teachers, but there are also “back doors”. She also criticized the lack of a salary reform. Johannes Margreiter (NEOS) discussed the great importance of the teaching profession. It is of great importance to make the spirit of democracy understandable to children at school, said Margreiter.
Thanks and farewell
Words of thanks and farewell were found in Eva Blimlinger (Greens), Reinhold Einwallner (SPÖ) and Johannes Margreiter (NEOS) in their last speeches in the National Council. (End of National Council) gs/bea
NOTE: Sessions of the National Council and the Federal Council can also be followed via livestream and are available as video-on-demand in the Parliament’s Media Library available.
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– What are the key changes brought about by the Austrian National Council‘s amendment to the Civil Service Act?
Table of Contents
Austrian National Council Passes Comprehensive Civil Service Act Amendment
In a significant move, the Austrian National Council has approved an extensive amendment to the Civil Service Act, aiming to make the public service more attractive and efficient. The amendment, which is the fourth legislative package, was supported by the ÖVP, the Greens, and the SPÖ, with 933rd and likely the last legislative decision in this legislative period.
Key Provisions of the Amendment
The amendment brings about several important changes, including:
- Compulsory management training for federal service managers
- Adaptation of the tendering law
- Better pay for health and nursing staff in prisons and correctional facilities
- Opportunity for public employees to accompany their child to inpatient rehabilitation stays
- Regulation of secondary employment for contract employees
- Measures to combat corruption based on Council of Europe’s GRECO group recommendations
- Improvements in travel allowance rates
- Better pay for teaching in German language support classes
- Service and salary regulations for teacher training
- Relief measures for school principals and teachers
- Indicative use of the federal government’s new crisis coordinator
Relief for School Principals and Teachers
One of the significant aspects of the amendment is the relief measure for school principals and teachers. Teachers supporting school principals with administrative tasks will see a reduction in their teaching obligation by half an hour per week per class. Additionally, teachers who enter the profession after completing their bachelor’s degree and complete their master’s degree alongside their job will be employed only to the extent of half of their teaching obligation and may not be employed as class teachers unless they expressly request otherwise.
FPÖ’s Opposition
The FPÖ did not support the amendment, citing concerns over EU requirements regarding conflicts of interest and changes to the Federal Equal Treatment Act. Werner Herbert (FPÖ) argued that the amendment contains a “declaration of mistrust” of public servants and general suspicion of all civil servants.
**Reactions
– What are the key provisions of the amended Austrian Civil Service Act?
Comprehensive Reform of the Austrian Civil Service Act: A Boost for Public Servants
In a significant move, the Austrian National Council has passed an extensive amendment to the Civil Service Act, aiming to make the public service more attractive and competitive. The new legislation, voted in by the ÖVP, Greens, and SPÖ, introduces a range of measures to improve working conditions, salaries, and career prospects for public servants.
Key Provisions of the Amendment
The amended Civil Service Act brings numerous changes, including:
Compulsory management training for federal service managers
Adaptation of tendering law to align with private sector practices
Better pay for health and nursing staff in prisons and correctional facilities
Opportunities for public employees to accompany their children to inpatient rehabilitation stays
Regulation of secondary employment for contract employees
Measures to combat corruption, based on recommendations from the Council of Europe’s GRECO group of states
Improvements to travel allowance rates
Enhancements for Teachers and School Principals
In the education sector, the amendment introduces several welcome changes, including:
Better pay for teaching in German language support classes
Service and salary regulations to support the further development of teacher training
Relief measures for school principals, including reduced teaching obligations for teachers supporting administrative tasks
Easier transition to teaching at special schools
School principals’ ability to choose their own replacements
Reactions from Political Parties
The ÖVP and Greens have hailed the amendment as a “comprehensive package” that brings “important improvements” to the Civil Service Act. State Secretary Andrea Mayer emphasized that the changes will make public service more attractive to potential employees.
In contrast, the FPÖ did not support the amendment, citing concerns about EU requirements regarding conflicts of interest and alleged “general suspicion” of civil servants. The party also criticized the lack of solutions for existing salary differences in the Federal Army.
A Boost for Public Servants
The amended Civil Service Act is a significant step towards making the public service more attractive and competitive. By introducing measures to improve working conditions, salaries, and career prospects, the Austrian government aims to attract and retain top talent in the public sector.
As Austria looks to the future, this comprehensive reform is an important building block in creating a modern, efficient, and effective public service that serves the needs of its citizens.
Meta Description: The Austrian National Council has passed a comprehensive amendment to the Civil Service Act, introducing measures to improve working conditions, salaries, and career prospects for public servants.
Keywords: Austrian Civil Service Act, public servants, National Council, ÖVP, Greens, SPÖ, FPÖ, amendment, teachers, school principals, working conditions, salaries, career prospects.
