Background information

With new rules and more funds for short-time work, the Austrian government is trying to keep as many people as possible in their jobs. The Public Employment Service (AMS) head Johannes Kopf still expects 'due to the developments' that 'in the coming weeks a lot of people - hopefully for only a short time - will have to register as unemployed'. AMS expects an increased number of people to become unemployed during the current pandemic. In order reduce personal contacts to a minimum, applications for unemployment benefit and emergency assistance can be made without a personal interview from home. This can be done online, or via the electronic system eAMS, or, if online is not possible, via telephone and subsequent mailing of the forms.

Content of measure

Minister of Labour Christine Aschbacher (conservative People's Party ÖVP) has issued a decree stating that people no longer have to come personally to the AMS service centers to apply for unemployment benefits. This should both relieve the AMS and help to limit the spread of the virus.

The preferred way to submit an application is via an eAMS account, 'then a lot of the further communication is done electronically', according to AMS head Kopf. Those who do not yet have one can get one through their 'Finanzonline' account or with their Citizen Card. Those who have neither access to 'Finanzonline' nor a citizen card can apply for an electronic AMS account by email or phone. Then, however, the processing can take a few days. If waiting is not an option, unemployed can also register as unemployed using a form on the AMS website. It is also possible to report unemployment by email. The last option is to call the AMS to have the necessary forms sent to you by post.

For those who receive unemployment benefits and the entitlement period would come to an end (thus receiving the lower emergency assistance), the 'Corona crisis period' is not calculated towards this entitlement, i.e. unemployment benefits are prolonged for the duration of the crisis.

Use of measure

Compared to February (333,987 unemployed persons), there was in increase in the number of unemployed both in March (504,345) and in April (522,253). So it can be assumed that the additional unemployed during the Corona crisis (150,000-200,000) could have made use of an online application for the unemployment benefit or have filed the application via mail, telephone or fax.

In 2020, in total, around 291,000 people benefited from the increase in the emergency assistance (usually 92% of the unemployment benefit) to the level of unemployment benefit. Figures from May 2021 show almost 190,000 recipients.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

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

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

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

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The PES administrative board consists of social partner and state representatives, so it can be assumed they were informed.

Views and reactions

Social partners are supportive.

Sources

• 15 March 2020: AMS applications possible from home (orf.at)
• 11 February 2021: Large majority in favor of an extended increase in emergency aid (www.parlament.gv.at)
• 07 April 2021: Higher emergency assistence prolonged (www.wienerzeitung.at)
• 26 May 2021: Top-up of emergency assistance prolonged until September 2021 (www.ots.at)
• 28 September 2021: Emergency aid: AK and ÖGB demand extension (orf.at)
• 02 October 2021: Labour minister Kocher against extension (www.derstandard.at)