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Factsheet for measure AT-1995-1/2521 – measures in Austria

Implacement work foundation

Arbeitsstiftung (implacement)

Country Austria , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 01 January 1995
Context Restructuring Support Instruments
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future
– Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.)
Author Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound
Measure added 23 June 2022 (updated 28 October 2022)

Background information

Eligibility varies slightly across the different provinces. Generally, an implacement foundation is available to unemployed persons who express interest in receiving training qualifications and who have not been employed by the company looking for staff during the previous 52 weeks. In 2011, a specific implacement foundation for young workers between 19 and 24 years (called JUST implacement foundation ) was implemented, targeted towards qualifying low qualified young persons (with a focus on apprenticeships).

Content of measure

Implacement foundations seek to place unemployed people with appropriate qualifications with available jobs. They involve the careful development and implementation of individualised (re-)integration processes by offering a broad package of supportive measures; these include career guidance, various training measures, active job searches, and work experience programmes. The duration of the training measures varies; support is provided for up to 156 weeks and under certain circumstances (for example, when the employee is over 50 years of age) up to 208 weeks (i.e. the maximum duration is three and four years, respectively). Training can involve available apprenticeship programmes. The social partners have to agree on the design of the work foundation.

During participation, workers receive financial support to the amount of the unemployment benefit (in some provinces, such as Vorarlberg, they receive an additional stipend). The company registers its demand for labour with the Public Employment Service ( AMS ) which looks for appropriate candidates among the register of unemployed people. If a company volunteers to participate, it can make a final selection of candidates. At that stage, a training plan is prepared, including training provided by external training providers as well as theoretical and practical training in the company. After this, the employment contract begins.

Funding:

  • National government
  • Public employment services: legal framework, funding through unemployment benefits via the Public Employment Service (AMS).
  • Regional/local government: funding of training costs.
  • Employers' or employees' organisations: social partner involvement at company level (agreement).
  • Other: additional funding by the employer.

External training providers examples:

  • The Implacement Cluster Programme (CSP)
  • BIS Implacement, Exact
  • Autoplace Implacement Stiftung
  • VOEST-Alpine Stahlstiftung
  • JUST Implacement.

Use of measure

Between 2011 and 2013 the number of participants in implacement foundations has decreased slightly, but went up again in 2014 to 6,940 persons Sozialministerium 2015 . In 2016, 6,815 people received funding ( Sozialministerium 2018 . Following the latest report Sozialministerium 2019 , the number of participants has risen up to 7,799 in 2017 before lowering again to 6,400 in 2018.

Strengths: In growth sectors, implacement work foundations offer companies a chance to access the skilled labour that they seek; workers are trained to meet their specific needs. During the training period, the company does not have any wage and ancillary wage costs and saves costs relating to training and HR administration. At the same time, the scheme gives job seekers the opportunity to gain qualifications as well as the promise of employment at the end of the training process. They promote greater occupational, remunerative and regional mobility. The division of costs among various stakeholders means that the amount of required public funding is quite low.

Weaknesses: No information available.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Employees in standard employment
Applies to all businesses Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Local / regional government
Public employment service
Employer
National funds
Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Unknown Unknown
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Unknown

Views and reactions

Unknown

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Implacement work foundation, measure AT-1995-1/2521 (measures in Austria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/AT-1995-1_2521.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.