Background information

As in many European countries, during the first lockdown in Austria in spring 2020, employers and employees were asked by the federal government to resort to home office if and where possible, in order to keep physical contacts at a minimum. While this was feasible for many office workers, this was far less possible for industrial workers who had to continue to go to their work places, putting them at a higher risk of catching COVID-19.

Content of measure

In order to compensate for their increased burden and outstanding commitment during those times, in many industrial sectors, a Corona-bonus of €150 was negotiated in this spring's annual collective bargaining rounds, e.g. in the electrical and electronics industry, in the chemical industry, and in the shoe and textile industries:

• In all these sectors, a wage increase of 1.6% (collectively agreed minimum wages, actual wages and apprenticeship compensation) was agreed.
• In the wood processing and sawmill industries, a Corona-bonus of €130 was agreed upon, as well as regular wage increases (actual, minimum, apprentices) of 1.6%.
• In the leather and suitcase industry, increases of 1.45% and the recommendation of a Corona-bonus of €100 were agreed upon by the sectoral social partners.
• In the paper industry, a higher Corona-bonus of €460 (with an option to increase it to €760 as recommended by the CA partners) and €340 for apprentices was negotiated, also with 1.6% regular increases.
• In the pattern-setting metal industry bargaining rounds in autumn 2020, a recommendation to pay a Corona-bonus of €150 was given and an increase of 1.45% (minimum and actual wages, apprenticeship compensation) was negotiated.

Most of the collective agreements foresee the payment of the Corona-bonus by the end of September 2020 (the wood processing industry by 31 October 2020).

Use of measure

Around 120,000 employees work in those industrial sectors which conducted their annual bargaining rounds in spring.

Contents

• Bonuses
• Pay increases

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Employees in standard employment	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Social partners jointly Trade unions Employers' organisations	Companies

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

The specific sectoral social partners negotiated the annual collective bargaining rounds, as requested by their institutional setting.

Views and reactions

The social partners are supportive.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 23 October 2020: Database of collective agreements Austria