According to the Chamber of Labor (AK), every third employed person cannot imagine being able to do their current job until they retire.
“Work is becoming more and more intensive, the work pressure is increasing,” said Chamber of Labor President Renate Anderl at a press conference today. “A legal reduction in working hours is the next logical step.”
The AK renewed its demand for a gradual reduction in working hours with full pay. The ÖVP-Wirtschaftsbund criticized the initiative.
“Healthy full-time work” at 30 to 35 hours
According to the Chamber of Labor, “healthy full-time work” is 30 to 35 hours. The desire for shorter working hours runs through all sectors. Anderl relies on a non-representative online survey in which around 4,700 people took part.
Eight out of ten respondents stated that they wanted to work less. Every second part-time employee stated that they would work more if full-time were defined differently. “Especially women with children have a multiple burden of gainful employment, family and housework,” said Anderl. “Therefore, a new, healthy full-time would be a significant contribution to equality between women and men.”
No “decline of the economy”
In Austria, full-time work is longer than the EU average, and many unpaid overtime hours are also worked. Anderl also recalled that the last legal reduction in working hours was passed in the 1970s.
Since then, however, productivity has risen enormously, and then as now, warnings were given of the “decline of the economy”. “But there was no decline in our economy, it’s still there,” says Anderl.
Anderl: Labor force potential not exhausted
With a view to the shortage of skilled workers, Anderl pointed out that there was not yet exhausted labor potential. For example, 438,000 people are currently working part-time due to caring responsibilities, but would like to work more.
The shortage of skilled workers could also be alleviated by better reintegrating mothers into the labor market and by promoting “second chance education”. Companies that are already experimenting with shorter working hours would also have fewer problems finding suitable specialists.
Criticism from the ÖVP Economic Association
Criticism came from the ÖVP Economic Association. There is already a labor shortage that is threatening the business location and the welfare state. “It’s bizarre when the Chamber of Labor can’t come up with anything better than calling for a general reduction in working hours,” said Kurt Egger, Secretary General of the Economic Association and National Councilor of the ÖVP.
