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.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 52 measures in Austria in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most cases fall into the category Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services with 11 cases (21%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, with the next main update scheduled for July 2020.
This overview was prepared by Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
10 April 2020 |
Civilian service extension and voluntary reactivation
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
10 April 2020 |
Extension of employment permit for seasonal workers
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
06 May 2020 |
Increase of maximum weekly working hours
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
05 October 2020 |
Tax exemption for COVID-19 bonuses
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Bipartite collective agreements |
23 October 2020 |
Corona hazard bonus in collective agreements in the social and healthcare sectors
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
23 October 2020 |
Recommendation for Corona bonus in retail collective agreement
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
04 November 2020 |
Corona bonus of €3000 rewards Vienna Port employees for exceptional burden
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
04 November 2020 |
Corona bonus in several industrial sectors
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Company practices |
13 April 2020 |
Self-isolation Vienna Energy
Other |
19 May 2020 |
Austrian armed forces 'take over' postal logistics services
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Other initiatives or policies |
10 April 2020 |
Food helpers online platform
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
31 March 2020 |
State support for tourism - Access to finance
Access to finance |
31 March 2020 |
Bank guarantees for SMEs and one-person enterprises
Access to finance |
10 April 2020 Updated |
Company subsidy for fixed costs
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
20 April 2020 |
Hardship fund for SMEs - Upper Austria
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
09 July 2020 Updated |
Support fund for non-profit organisations
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
09 July 2020 Updated |
Reduction of VAT (value added tax) to 5% for gastronomy, accommodation, culture and publications
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
30 December 2020 Updated |
Lock down - turnover (sales) compensation
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
10 April 2020 |
Deferral of social security contributions for self-employed
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
Other initiatives or policies |
05 October 2020 Updated |
Investment premium
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
05 October 2020 |
Guarantees for bank loans - Vienna
Access to finance |
05 October 2020 |
'Proud of Vienna' Holding: providing equity capital to affected companies with the help of a temporary investment
Access to finance |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
13 April 2020 |
Mandatory usage of holiday entitlements and time credits
Working time and working time flexibility |
02 October 2020 |
Expansion and increase of the job security allowance and wage allowance
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
Bipartite collective agreements |
04 November 2020 |
€300 million salary waiver to save Austrian Airlines
Wage flexibility |
Tripartite agreements |
31 March 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 short-time work scheme
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
Company practices |
|
---|---|
13 April 2020 |
Good practice: Snowblowers to blow disinfectants
Change of production/innovation |
Other initiatives or policies |
31 March 2020 |
OpenHotel platform for essential workers
Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
|
---|---|
07 May 2020 |
Recommendation for a gradual relaunch of work - focus on office routine
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
Other initiatives or policies |
14 May 2020 |
City of Vienna issues gastronomy vouchers for every household
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
04 November 2020 |
Employers organisation provides consulting services for SMEs to restart their business
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
14 April 2020 Updated |
Occupational safety measures concerning COVID-19
Occupational health and safety |
Bipartite collective agreements |
15 April 2020 Updated |
Protection of workers in retail, including change of working hours
Occupational health and safety |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
14 April 2020 |
Instructions from the social partners for dealing with construction sites due to COVID-19
Occupational health and safety |
14 April 2020 |
Recommendation on teleworking
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Other initiatives or policies |
16 April 2020 |
Subsidy for home offices - IT infrastructure
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
25 April 2020 |
SME subsidy for teleworking: Region of Styria and Chamber of Labour
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
31 March 2020 Updated |
Hardship case fund: Safety net for self-employed
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Special subsidised care time for working parents and carers
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Online application for unemployment benefit
Income support for unemployed |
15 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 - Arts and culture - Overview of support measures for artists
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
25 April 2020 Updated |
Entrepreneur's wage (part of the company subsidy for fixed costs)
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
09 July 2020 Updated |
Lump-sum payments for unemployed and children
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
05 October 2020 |
Bridging subsidy Corona for self-employed with a disability
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
13 April 2020 Updated |
Alleviations for tenants
Keeping a safe home |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Debt moratorium for consumers and microenterprises
Preventing over-indebtedness |
14 April 2020 |
Electronic prescriptions
Access to healthcare |
14 April 2020 |
COVID-19 €100 million special fund for 24-hour nursing care
Access to healthcare |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 April 2020 |
No energy shutdown when payment difficulties occur
Keeping a safe home |
14 April 2020 |
Campaign 'Safe at home'
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
02 October 2020 Updated |
Re-start bonus (combination wage allowance)
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
02 January 2021 |
COVID-19 education bonus
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.