The president of the Austrian Economy Chamber (WKO) has rejected accusations that companies are bullying elderly employees. Conservative Pensioners’ Union chief Andreas Khol claimed that many of the people who retired before having reached the regular pension age might have been “bullied” by their employers. Khol said he agreed with Karl Blecha, who heads the […]
The government wants to crack down on illegal companies. Nineteen people were found guilty of various business crimes after being exposed by a special task force since April 2010. The investigative group of police officers, experts on cross-country corruption and labour market developments was established by Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer to keep […]
Austrian builders are starting to feel the pressure of competition from abroad. Since the opening of the domestic market to firms from EU countries more and more foreign firms are setting up business in Austria. Spokeswoman for the builders Maria Epple said: “It is not just the lower wage costs but also the fact that […]
The bosses of Austria’s most powerful companies are earning much more this year than in 2011, according to a survey. The Labour Chamber (AK) said yesterday (Thurs) that the chiefs of the 20 Austrian firms which were listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange (WBAG) would rake in 1.3 million Euros on average in 2012, up […]
The Economy Chamber (WKO) has warned from overly positive economic forecasts. The Institute for Economic Research (WIFO) recently said Austrian enterprises might invest 5.6 billion Euros this year in the domestic economy, 12 per cent more than in 2011. The WKO’s industrial section announced yesterday (Weds) that firms’ spending might not rise as sharply. WKO […]
Women’s Minister Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek promised to keep fighting gender disparities on the labour market as a survey shows that men earn significantly more than women of the same social background. Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) researchers compared the careers of 250 graduates to find out that the pay gap between the male and […]
Labour Chamber (AK) President Herbert Tumpel has demanded higher corporation taxes. Tumpel said yesterday (Thurs) Austrian firms had handed over just 17 per cent in taxes in 2010 despite the mandatory 25 per cent taxation rate. He explained the investigated enterprises used various loopholes to evade worse tax burdens. The AK investigated the performance of […]
Austria’s 170,000 metal workers are ready to down tools and take to the streets. Labour union official said they would hold summits at the beginning of next week and may organise demonstrations. They made clear that strikes were another possible measure. The announcements come after staff’s chief negotiator Rainer Wimmer upset employers’ representative Christoph Hinteregger […]
Mirko Kovats has harshly attacked Wilhelm Rasinger over the bankruptcy of A-Tec Industries AG (A-Tec). The industrial company – which consists of various affiliates operating in the raw material sector, the creation of factories and the production of tools – was founded by Kovats. It had to open insolvency procedures last year. The controlled bankruptcy […]
The government is disagreeing over whether the Federal Industry-Holding Stock Corporation (ÖIAG) should get involved in the handling of a major bankruptcy to save jobs. Social Democratic (SPÖ) General Secretary Günther Kräuter suggested yesterday (Sun) ÖIAG should be used as an “active industrial-political instrument” after it became clear on Friday that plans to carry out […]