Reductions in the long-term unemployed, additional income opportunities and travel for AMS customers – Minister Martin Kocher speaks in the “Today”-Talk Job-Klartext.
The government intends to present its labor market reform by the summer. Key point: a new model for AMS money and new regulations for additional income opportunities and job placement. So far, you started with 55 percent of the last net salary. The value should be higher in the future, but will decrease over time – “Heute” reported. Even now, people don’t stay “unemployed” for much more than €900 on average. How can one live from that? VP Minister Martin Kocher (48) spoke in the “Today”-City studio (full video above) about the details.
“Want to speed up the mediation”
“We have decided to work out a concrete proposal in the next few weeks and to present it before the summer,” says Kocher about the new unemployment insurance for Austria. Come into effect? “Sometime in 2023.” What is the government planning?
Kocher: “A gradual structure of the unemployment benefit – higher in the first phase, after a while it will be less.”
Exactly how this is designed is still part of the discussion. And the goal of all this? “To speed up placement. We want people who are unemployed to find work quickly. Being employed is always more than unemployment benefits – whether it’s 55 percent or 60 percent of the previous net salary.”
“Net replacement rate initially higher than 55 percent”
Where should the AMS money be at the beginning (previously 55 percent of the last payment) in the future? “It depends on the overall context. We haven’t worked out anything in detail yet.” The only thing that is clear is: “In the beginning it should be higher. It’s difficult to say exactly how high.”
Video: Is a 70% net rate conceivable?
Union boss Wolfgang Katzian recently called for a 70 percent net replacement rate. Conceivable for the Turkish minister? “We’re talking about any percentage that’s higher than 55 percent. We’ll look at exactly how high. That also depends a lot on what the rules are for additional earnings.”
“It can’t fall far below 55 percent”
For the long-term unemployed, the payment is to be reduced after a period of time. Can the Minister of Labor rule out that the AMS money ever falls below 55 percent of the last net salary? “We are already below 55 percent in emergency aid. It cannot fall far below 55 percent, because of course it cannot be the goal of a reform to increase the risk of poverty.”
“Involve social partners”
How fast should the money be cut? “We’re talking about a few weeks or months – but that depends on who is covered and how we deal with seasonal industries.” Anyone who is often unemployed should not benefit from the higher starting amount: “It shouldn’t be more attractive.” Kocher wants to inform and involve the social partners about the new law, but he makes it clear that consensus must be reached in the turquoise-green federal government in particular: “It is important that you have a majority in parliament.”
In view of the recent sharp rise in energy prices, the politician says that unemployment is “always a risk of poverty”. It should therefore “always only be temporary, not permanent.” He does not want to shake the permanent emergency aid.
Martin Kocher: “Of course, unemployment benefits are not particularly comfortable.”
And who should be able to live on the average unemployment benefit of 900 euros? “A good part of this income works on the basis of part-time work. The people who have this are often integrated into a family network. There is a second earner and they didn’t contribute as much insurance benefits before.” In addition, according to Kocher, “almost all people who become unemployed are unemployed for a relatively short time – fortunately”. Addendum: “Whoever works full-time naturally has higher unemployment benefits – well over 1,000 euros. But of course the unemployment benefits are not particularly comfortable.”
Video: How can you make a living from it?
“Family bonus let’s see”
The family allowance will also be an issue (currently around 1 euro per child and day, SPÖ mandatary Muchitsch wants to triple that): “We will certainly look at the family allowance. It has not been valued for a very long time, not even among SPÖ labor ministers. There is a group affected – namely the children of job-seekers – who are particularly at risk of poverty. We have to look at it closely.”
Does he want to allow AMS customers to go on vacation abroad in the future, for example to their home countries in the Balkans? “The question is always how this is coordinated with the respective advisor. But of course it is the case that – if you are looking for a job – you have to be available for the job market. That cannot be combined well with vacation. That would cause great difficulties open the door to mediation.
Video: Will traveling abroad remain taboo?
Change in additional earnings to AMS money
There should also be changes to the additional income (so far around 485 euros per month have been allowed), Kocher announces: “We’re looking at it carefully. I think we’ll find a way to limit this additional income, but those who want it need, have the opportunity to earn additional unemployment benefit.”
“Of course, employers can agree with employees that there are stricter rules – for example mask requirements or 3G.”
The topic of the talk (in full length above) was also the end of the 3G rule at work – despite record infection numbers. “The 3G regulation was the lowest safety net,” says Kocher. “It could no longer be generally maintained in the workplace. There was no longer any legal basis for a general rule across all sectors and areas.” However, he points out that “general labor law also provides for a duty of care regardless of Corona”. Kocher: “Of course, employers can agree with employees that there are stricter rules – for example, mask requirements or 3G. It just always has to be appropriate and proportionate. I think there is a great deal of interest in it working well and that not too many people drop out.”
Video: Kocher on the end of 3G at work and compulsory vaccination
“General compulsory vaccination better option”
After the general obligation to vaccinate was suspended until further notice on Wednesday, wanted “Today” do you still know whether it might not be conceivable for settings that are particularly worthy of protection? The Minister attaches importance to the statement that it is “not lifted, only suspended”. Kocher: “If there is a risk, a general vaccination requirement is the better option than a sectoral one, where there are always great difficulties with the sense of fairness.”