Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure AT-2021-27/2057 – Updated – measures in Austria
Country | Austria , applies nationwide |
Time period | Temporary, 01 July 2021 – 31 December 2022 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
– Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Author | Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 13 October 2021 (updated 06 June 2022) |
The Corona crisis has pushed many people into (long-term) unemployment. Although the number of unemployed has decreased with opening steps in May 2021, there are still more persons unemployed than before the crisis. More than one third of the registered unemployed have been unemployed for more than 12 months (i.e. long-term unemployed).
In order to bring those persons back in employment, the Public Employment Service (AMS) started the initiative "springboard" ("Sprungbrett"). This is a subsidised labour market integration benefit for long-term unemployed. It is implemented by the regional AMS offices.
The programme includes integration assistance in the form of subsidies for wage and ancillary wage costs for the company, subsidised work training, counselling and support services as well as the possibility of non-profit labour leasing (temporary work agencies). Furthermore, employees can also take advantage of the combination wage assistance.
"SPRUNGBRETT" Subsidies for wage and ancillary wage costs for the company:
The programme targets persons who are acutely threatened by long-term unemployment and who have been registered as unemployed for more than 365 days. An employment relationship is to be established that covers at least 50% of the full-time (statutory or collectively agreed) weekly working hours.
For female employees, employers receive funding for up to eight months, for male employees for up to six months, in the amount of two thirds (66.7%) of the assessment basis (which lies at a maximum of €3,750 per month). Total funding for females thus lies at €30,000, for men at €22,500.
"SPRUNGBRETT" Work training:
Work training is targeted to acquire practical experience after completing vocational training, to train skills and abilities, and to prepare for a job position in a company. The PES Vienna secures the financial existence of the trainees with a so-called "subsistence allowance" and provides health, accident and pension insurance. No costs for the company are incurred. The work training can be taken up to a duration of of up to 13 weeks.
"SPRUNGBRETT" Non-Profit Temporary Employment Agency
Companies can also hire new employees for a limited period of time via a temporary staff leasing. This can be accompanied by an optional offer of ongoing personal and professional support.
"SPRUNGBRETT" Support and accompanying counselling at the workplace
If required, the regional PES office Vienna provides accompanying support at the training or workplace through a counselling and support service. This offer is free for companies.
The goal of the initiative overall is to re-integrate 50,000 long-term unemployed into the labour market by the end of 2022.
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
17 May 2022 |
According to the General Secretary of the Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), Mr Kopf, the goal of reducing the number of long-term unemployed by 50,000 by the end of the year has already been reached in May 2022. |
As of mid-December 2021, according to the Minister of Labour, long-term unemployment has fallen by 37,000 since April. A large part of this could be traced back to the “Springboard” initiative. However, the goal of reducing long-term unemployment by 50,000 and thus reaching a number of long-time unemployed of below 100,000 by the end of 2022 has not yet been achieved.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Unemployed
|
Applies to all businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Local / regional government Public employment service |
National funds
Regional funds |
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:
The social partners are represented in the supervisory board of the national and regional Public Employment Service (AMS) and are thus by definition of their role involved to some degree in the implementation.
Not available.
Citation
Eurofound (2021), Springboard initiative for long-term unemployed, measure AT-2021-27/2057 (measures in Austria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/AT-2021-27_2057.html
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