Heavy Labor: Ministry to Reassess
In addition to paramedics, hospital doctors and mobile services are also claiming improved conditions for retirement and deductions, reported the ORF "Morgenjournal" on Friday. The Ministry of Social Affairs stated that the entire Heavy Labor Regulation will be reviewed again.
Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) recently, together with coalition partner ÖVP, promised a new regulation by January 1, 2026. Caregivers are to receive better access to the heavy labor pension - if they have at least 45 years of insurance and have performed heavy labor for at least ten years in the last 20 years, they can retire at 60. A budget of 40 million euros is allocated for this.
Union demands fair solution
The Union of Private Employees views this positively but demands a fair solution for all caregivers, as GPA Chairwoman Barbara Teiber explained: "It is important to us to also include colleagues who perform heavy work, both physical and psychological, in disability assistance, as well as in mobile services or in child and youth welfare." The government must not stop halfway.
According to Ö1, the Ministry of Social Affairs stated that they are aware that many professional groups perform physically and psychologically demanding work. The entire Heavy Labor Regulation will need to be reviewed. Green health spokesperson Ralph Schallmeiner called in a statement for a clear focus on improving the working conditions for employees in the healthcare sector and realistically achievable criteria for the heavy labor regulation. "Heavy labor regulations are of little use if the criteria are hardly achievable - this affects paramedics as well as caregivers. Many leave the profession prematurely because they can no longer physically cope or are burned out, as the conditions are not suitable," he emphasized.
(APA/Red)
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