Many Ideas and Little Concrete in Part-Time Discussion

After recent thoughts were aired within the ÖVP and by employer representatives to make full-time work more tax-attractive, Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) warned on Wednesday against disparaging part-time work. This has brought many women into employment and led to their economic security.

More than 21 hours

What is often lacking is the opportunity for part-time employed women to work longer than the average 21 hours per week. In Scandinavian countries, part-time work is predominantly 25 to 30 hours. "When you then ask part-time employees how long they would like to work if they could choose, they say 30 hours," the minister told the "Kurier".

His conclusion: "We need employers who offer better part-time jobs. In combination with the suggestion that unpaid work such as childcare, care, housework, etc., is better distributed between the genders." Marterbauer does not see a generation growing up that does not enjoy work at all. "Perhaps a generation is growing up that wants to better distribute paid working hours within the family," he said.

"Part-time is not a wish concert"

Yesterday, the Volkshilfe also struck this chord, speaking of a "dangerous reversal of blame." "Instead of looking at the real causes, the false impression is created that people consciously decide against a 'full-time commitment' to harm the republic. That is nonsense and leads the debate away from the real problems," warned their director Erich Fenninger. SPÖ Lower Austria Chairman Sven Hergovich emphasized: "Anyone who really wants to tackle the issue of work must solve problems - not insult people." ÖGB Federal Managing Director Helene Schuberth stated: "Anyone who portrays part-time work as 'luxury' or a lack of willingness to perform ignores the facts. Part-time is not a wish concert, but often a necessity - especially for women."

Walter Veit, the president of the private hotel association, on the other hand, insists on a tax benefit for full-time employees. He is thus in line with other employer representatives such as the Economic Association and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV). "Austria favors part-time work and leaves all those who are willing to work more than they have to out in the rain. Therefore, urgent measures are needed, such as a full-time bonus," said Economic Association Secretary General and ÖVP economic spokesperson Kurt Egger.

The IV stated: "If more and more people work part-time but receive in-kind benefits from social insurance, especially health services, like full-time employees, this will not work out in the long run," said Secretary General Christoph Neumayer. Support comes from Nico Marchetti, Secretary General of the ÖVP: "We must reward those who achieve significantly more with overtime than they have to." This was countered by the faction of Social Democratic Trade Unionists in the form of Chairman Josef Muchitsch: "Anyone currently demanding a comeback of performance should first look at who in Austria has long been doing far more than they have to. If you want more performance, you have to pay for it. Let's start by finally paying the 42 million unpaid extra and overtime hours to the employees.

Hattmannsdorfer sparked discussion

For the FPÖ, the government is already leading a sham debate. Economic spokesperson Barbara Kolm said towards ÖVP Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, whose statements on part-time work are "socially populist and economically unrealistic." "What we need is not patronizing steering and state pressure on employees, but relief, performance incentives, a fair and simple tax system," she said. And there is also resistance from the Greens against a disadvantage for part-time work, while the NEOS have so far been reserved.

Hattmannsdorfer initiated the discussion about the high part-time rate in Austria last Saturday. The minister has not yet presented concrete proposals; rather, opinions in the federal government still differ significantly. Yesterday, the Economic Minister said he now wants to provide information as a first step. Those who significantly reduce their working hours over a longer period should be informed about the negative impact on their pension amount - for example, by email or letter, according to Hattmannsdorfer. His credo of the past few days: "In part-time mode, we will not be able to maintain prosperity."

(APA/Red)

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