Kika/Leiner: Establishment of a Work Foundation in Lower Austria

The step is intended to "ensure optimal placement, further education and qualification for all affected employees," announced regional councillor Susanne Rosenkranz (FPÖ) on Thursday. The foundation will "provide additional support for three years", through which "targeted measures should reintegrate the employees into the labour market".

"We now have concrete numbers and data on those affected by the insolvency of Kika/Leiner for the first time, so we can start working on a suitable solution. Insolvency is always a heavy blow for employees - it hits particularly hard just before Christmas," Rosenkranz emphasised in a written statement.

Currently, only a few people are registered through the early warning system of the Employment Service (AMS), these can be well cared for with the existing capacities. "Since the majority of employees are still working in the branches and are still processing the Christmas business, most employees will not be registered with the AMS until the new year." The job foundation will "be the best possible solution, which we have been working on for weeks," said Rosenkranz.

550 Employees of Kika/Leiner Live in the State

Sandra Kern, regional manager of the AMS Lower Austria, expressed similar sentiments. "We have to offer those affected security and prospects for the future. That is our task and the foundation is an important contribution to making this possible." According to the information, about 550 employees of Kika/Leiner live in Lower Austria.

The foundation was unanimously decided on Thursday afternoon by the state parliament. "Especially in the pre-Christmas period, we are giving hundreds of affected Kika/Leiner employees hope and a perspective again with this job foundation. With this foundation, the basis is now being created to specifically support those affected in career orientation, qualification and retraining. We are doing everything we can to ensure that our affected compatriots find a new job as soon as possible," said state governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) in a press release.

The introduction of a job foundation, which had initially been rejected by the media, was recently demanded by the Lower Austrian Workers' and Employees' Association (NÖAAB) and the ÖGB Lower Austria. The SPÖ also insisted on a corresponding institution and submitted an urgent motion in advance of the state parliament session taking place on (today's) Thursday.

For the red state party chairman, State Councilor Sven Hergovich, the introduction of a job foundation is an "important step". The AMS Lower Austria now has the basis to provide targeted support, he emphasized in a press release on Thursday. "The crucial thing will be that the foundation not only exists on paper, but that sufficient funds are actually provided for the qualification and placement of those affected." The SPÖ will "closely monitor how the implementation of the job foundation is carried out and whether those affected actually receive the help they need." The NÖAAB, which saw its demands met in a press release, was also pleased.

The GPA Lower Austria trade union had launched an online petition for a job foundation after the bankruptcy of Kika/Leiner. This had been signed by almost 3,000 people, calculated Managing Director Michael Pieber. The demand for a permanent foundation remains.

Rosenkranz: "Constant Exchange with the AMS"

"We don't need calls from third parties and we have been in constant exchange with the AMS since the insolvency became known," Rosenkranz stated. "We have had many discussions so that everything is prepared and we can start at any time."

The Lower Austrian ÖGB chairman and AK President Markus Wieser was pleased about the measure. In a press release, he stated: "The job foundation for the Kika/Leiner employees is the right step by the Lower Austrian state government and another proof of how important the non-partisan work of the ÖGB Lower Austria is." With the job foundation, it is ensured that all those who might have problems despite the efforts of the AMS can look to the future without fear: "This way, the perspective of further qualification and employment can be offered, should all other options bring no possibilities," said Wieser.

In Vienna, the 190 affected Kika/Leiner employees can, if necessary, take advantage of an insolvency foundation of the Vienna Workers' Promotion Fund (waff). Participants of the foundation can train and further educate themselves for up to three years and receive unemployment benefits from the AMS Vienna as well as a training allowance of 100 euros per month from the waff.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.