Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for case AT-2020-13/224 – measures in Austria
Country | Austria , applies nationwide |
Time period | Temporary, 27 March 2020 – 30 April 2020 |
Type | Other initiatives or policies |
Category |
Reorientation of business activities
– Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer |
Author | Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound |
Case created | 31 March 2020 (updated 02 May 2020) |
When the Austrian government ordered the temporary closure of accommodations (hostels, hotels, b&b etc.) as one public health measure to combat the Corona virus, this website was set up. Its aim is to match open hotels with companies providing essential services, who are looking for temporary accomodation for workers in essential service. e.g. for caregivers, food retailers, mechanics and aid workers.
It is available for all 9 Austrian regions. For establishments in the regions of Salzburg, Carinthia and Vorarlberg special exceptions are required, as all touristic establishments have been locked between 16 March 2020 and 13 April 2020, in the first place.
Businesses in accomodation services can register on openhotels.at and companies can then look for open accomodation for essential workers in their regions. It has been set up by the section on hotel businesses of the Federal Economic Chamber (WKO). Establishments can register on the platform, once they have been issued such an exception. Sanctions for keeping the establishments open and non-compliance with the regulation amount to €1,450 or alternatively imprisonment of up to four weeks.
Establishments can register on the platform, once they have been issued such an exception. Sanctions for keeping the establishments open and non-compliance with the regulation amount to €1,450 or alternatively imprisonment of up to four weeks.
n.a.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Particular professions
Seasonal workers Posted workers |
Does not apply to businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
Employers' organisations
|
Employers organisation
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | No involvement | Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative |
Form | Not applicable | N/A |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
N/A
The platform is a unilateral initiative of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), industry section for hotels, an employers' organisation.
This case is sector-specific
Economic area | Sector (NACE level 2) |
---|---|
I - Accommodation And Food Service Activities | I55 Accommodation |
This case is not occupation-specific.
Citation
Eurofound (2020), OpenHotel platform for essential workers, case AT-2020-13/224 (measures in Austria), COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, http://eurofound.link/covid19eupolicywatch
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.