“An extension of the statutory standard working hours is definitely out of the question for me. I also think a 32-hour week is completely the wrong approach,” he said on Wednesday. The question of working hours is a question for the social partners and it should stay that way. The Chancellor formulated his demands in his Austria plan: “My Austria plan provides for tax-free overtime and a full-time bonus and definitely no change in standard working hours.”
Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) made it clear on Wednesday that she was not in favor of a 41-hour week. “I have never called for an extension of standard working hours,” she said at the press conference following the Council of Ministers regarding a corresponding proposal from the Industrial Association (IV). The day before she had expressed her openness to the desire to extend her working hours.
“Unbridled excitement in the primary election campaign”
Edtstadler now said that she simply pointed out that it would be necessary to work more for prosperity in Austria and Europe. She attributed yesterday’s discussion regarding her comment on the IV’s initiative – an extension of working hours to 41 hours a week without wage compensation – to “unbridled excitement” in the pre-election campaign.
The minister’s office had already specified on Tuesday that she was not interested in increasing the standard working hours for full-time employees, but rather in getting those who do not have full-time work more to work. Politicians must create incentives for this, so workers must have “more net of gross”, and there also needs to be a full-time bonus and tax-privileged overtime, she explained the ÖVP’s view on Wednesday.
Felbermayr advocates “full-time incentives”
Wifo boss Gabriel Felbermayr considers the debate surrounding the 41-hour week to be “not very helpful”. What is more important is that the number of hours worked in Austria grows with population development, he said at a press conference on Wednesday in response to questions from journalists. Felbermayr advocates “full-time incentives,” including a reduction in non-wage labor costs.
