Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Austria (Ratification: 1972)

The Committee notes the observations made by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) and the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK), transmitted with the Government’s report.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Active labour market measures, education and training. As regards labour market policy, the Government indicates that considerable importance is attached to the goal of raising the proportion of employed women and men. The Committee notes in this regard that in 2013 the proportion of employed women and men between the ages of 20 and 64 was measured at 75.5 per cent and that the national target is set at 77–78 per cent. It also notes that, according to EUROSTAT, unemployment in Austria was among the lowest in the euro area with 4.9 per cent in December 2014 and 5.0 per cent in December 2013. It further notes that unemployment was measured at 5.6 per cent in October 2015. The Government adds that a key focus of the labour market policy is the continued raising of skills standards among the employed population, especially those belonging to major target groups, namely young people and older workers with few or outdated qualifications. In its observations, the AK indicates that labour market policy should be altered and redirected towards an investment approach, adding that elements of the active labour market policy that help workers with few qualifications to acquire formal qualifications should be considerably expanded. Wage subsidies alone do not lead to any continued improvement in the situation of workers with few qualifications. It adds that the recognition and use of skills acquired informally or through non-formal channels, in connection with qualification measures for the purpose of vocational training that is also formally recognized, must be systematically extended. The WKÖ indicates that placement services and the new pilot projects in the framework of “AQUA” (on-the-job-qualifications) combine theoretical with practical training in a company, and train unemployed people for specific jobs whose vacancies cannot otherwise be filled. The labour market success rates are far above average at 80 per cent, and in some cases up to 100 per cent. The WKÖ adds that these projects are especially designed for people with few or no qualifications and that on-the-job-training, in the form of placements of the new “AQUA” projects, offers better labour market prospects than mere training schemes. In recent years, this form of training has fallen back, although it is a cheap and effective way of enabling unemployed people to gain higher qualifications, through the co-financing of the enterprises and the high recruitment rates for the labour exchange services (AMS). The WKÖ therefore recommends further development of on-the-job-training. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the programmes and measures taken in the area of education and training and on their relation to prospective employment opportunities. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on employment measures targeting vulnerable workers, such as low-skilled workers, persons with disabilities and immigrant workers, and on the involvement of the social partners in their formulation.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that since 2012 the highest priority has been given to labour market and employment policy for young people. The Committee notes that half of the funding for active labour market policy is invested on those under the age of 25, thus permitting young people to be the main beneficiaries of labour market support measures. The Committee notes the observations of the AK indicating that the number of recorded unemployed young people rose from 2011 to 2013 (46,932 to 51,626 young people) and that further measures must be introduced to provide young people in search of training opportunities with training courses up to the qualifying stage, in order to ensure a vocational training system acting as the basis for the future working life of young people and enabling good labour market prospects for them. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to ensure lasting employment for young persons.

Older workers. According to EUROSTAT, between 2004 and 2012 the proportion of 55–64 year olds in employment increased from 28.8 per cent to 43.1 per cent. In 2013, it reached 44.9 per cent, in comparison with the EU average of 50.1 per cent for the same year. The Committee notes that increasing employment rates among older workers is a special policy objective of the Government. In the employment programme for 2013–18, a pathway has been defined to increase the employment rates of older workers and the actual age of retirement, namely to increase the employment rate of men aged from 55 to 59 to 74.6 per cent in 2018 (68.1 per cent in 2012) and 62.9 per cent for women in the same age group (47.9 per cent in 2012). Achievement of targets will be monitored every six months and binding measures will be taken without delay if there is any significant deviation from the pathway. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of its active labour market measures implemented targeting older workers. Please also include available information on the relationship between measures aimed at increased employment for youth and those aimed at retaining older workers in the labour market.