Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Austria (Ratification: 1987)

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

The Committee notes the observations of the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK) communicated with the Government’s report.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Statistics of the economically active population, employment and unemployment. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Government provides in its report information on the amendments to the Directive of the Federal Minister for Employment, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection concerning labour and household statistics, 2010. The Committee notes the links to websites provided by the Government to obtain data on the labour situation, employed workers, the unemployed and those seeking work. It also notes that information relating to the 2011 population census has been supplied to the ILO Department of Statistics. In its observations, the AK provides information on the increasing number of one-person undertakings and “new” self-employed persons, operating with or without a specific trading licence. The AK is of the view that there are many indications that these new self-employed persons are pseudo forms of self-employment or precarious businesses which are far from the original concept of independent operations. In view of the observations of AK, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of these provisions. Please also include information on any plans for conducting the next round of the population census and on any developments towards the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Article 9. Statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Government indicates that statistics of hourly wages and working hours are collected on the basis of enterprises’ data in Austrian Statistics and Eurostat. The Committee notes that the average monthly earnings of employees, derived from the General Income Report and classified by branch of economic activity and sex, have been communicated to the ILO Department of Statistics. The most recent data in this regard refers to 2011. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that statistics of minimum time rates of wages and negotiated standard working hours are compiled on the basis of collective agreements (Article 9(2)). The Committee requests the Government to communicate updated statistics of earnings as soon as they become available (Article 9(1)).

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries and occupational diseases. The Committee notes that statistics on occupational injuries are regularly submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics. The statistics are obtained from insurance records provided by the Austrian Workers’ Compensation Board (AUVA). The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any new developments in the field of statistics of occupational diseases.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the data source for industrial dispute statistics, namely the records of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, which is responsible for consolidating the statistics received from individual trade unions regarding strikes in which they have been involved. The Committee further notes that statistics on strikes from this source are regularly submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide statistics of industrial disputes.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report for the period ending in May 2009, received on 27 August 2009, and containing replies to its previous comments. It also notes the written statement by AK Bundesarbeitskammer (Federal Chamber of Labour), in relation to the effects of the financial crisis on social security, that the situation regarding this particular Convention has not changed.

Articles 7 and 9–11 of the Convention. The Committee takes note of the changes in the regulation of the Federal of the Economy and Labour on employment and household statistics and welcomes the provision by the Government of the links to web pages for data on the employment status, actively employed, unemployed and jobseekers (Article 7), and labour cost and earnings (Articles 9, 10 and 11). The Committee also notes the provision of statistics of average weekly hours actually worked by employees, by sex and branch of economic activity derived from the labour force survey (latest data referring to 2008); average hourly earnings by sex and branch of economic activities, derived from various establishment surveys and insurance records (latest data referring to 2008 and classified according to ISIC Rev. 4, while in agriculture the latest data still refers to 2004). In addition, the Committee notes that the corresponding monthly statistics in manufacturing are regularly received at the ILO by email for dissemination on LABORSTA. As of June 2010, the latest statistics refer to September 2009.

With regard in particular to Article 9(2), the Committee notes that statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work were compiled on the basis of collective agreements, under the responsibility of the Federation of Austrian Trade Unions. They cover the whole country and a large number of occupations covered by these agreements. However, since the last report, the data have not been received at the ILO, and no information is available as to whether such statistics still continue to be compiled, since the latest data refer to 2002.

As to the statistics of occupational wage rates and normal hours of work, average earnings and hours actually worked, they are transmitted each year to STATISTICS for publication in the Occupational wages and hours of work and retail food prices. Statistics from the ILO October Inquiry 2009, results and dissemination on the ILO web site. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed about whether statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work still continue to be compiled on the basis of collective agreements, under the responsibility of the Federation of Austrian Trade Unions. In this regard, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the new international standards concerning the measurement of working time (see Resolution I, adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, whose larger number of concepts and measures would seem to be better aligned with national practice, published via Internet at: http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/
lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm).

Article 15. According to the Government, no strikes were announced by the Austrian Trade Union Federation for 2008 and the Federal Chamber of Labour stated that no changes occurred in the application of this Convention. However, a complete search on the English version website did not reveal any statistical or methodological information on the compilation of statistics of strikes in particular, contrary to the indication by the Government in reply to its previous comment that general information is available at http://www.statistik.gv.at. Accordingly, the Committee once again insists that the Government supplies information on the measures taken to ensure the publication by the competent body of a description of the methodology used in collecting and compiling statistics of industrial disputes (Article 6).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the information supplied in reply to its previous comments. It also notes the comments of the Federal Chamber of Labour attached to the Government’s report, according to which, while the efforts made by the ILO to harmonize statistics on strike are to be welcomed, in view of the nature of these statistics, which are evolving rapidly, only a long-term comparison at the national level would be possible. The Committee notes that statistics required by Article 14 are available at the level of the representative organizations.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would take measures to ensure that the statistics on occupational injuries and on strikes and lockouts are communicated to the ILO as soon as practicable (Articles 5, 14 and 15 of the Convention).

In addition, the Committee once again hopes that the Government will supply information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure the publication by the competent body of a description of the methodology used in collecting and compiling statistics (Articles 6 and 15).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and, in particular, the information on the Labour Market Service (AMS) which was set up as a public law entity, with effect from 1 July 1994, and has responsibility for labour market monitoring and statistics. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on the following points:

Article 12 of the Convention.  In addition to specific action by the ILO Bureau of Statistics concerning the new CPI series (base 1996=100), the Committee asks the Government to supply methodological information on the CPI series base 1996=100 (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 13.  The Committee asks the Government to provide the title and reference number of the principal publication in which the results from the 1993-94 survey appear and to transmit the relevant publication to the ILO (in accordance with Article 5).

Article 14.  The Committee notes the methodological information provided for publication in Sources and methods: Labour statistics, Vol. 8, including the fact that the reporting of occupational injuries to the accident insurance institutions does not include details of days of absence from work, and that all workers injured are covered, whether or not their injuries caused any absence from work.

Article 15.  The Committee notes that the statistics of strikes are published each year. The Committee asks the Government again to indicate any steps taken to publish a methodological description of the statistics (in accordance with Article 6).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

The Committee takes note of the Government's third report, and requests the Government to supply information on the following points.

Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee would draw the Government's attention to the obligation under this Article to communicate to the ILO, as soon as possible, the published statistics covered by the Convention, for instance that of the population census (Article 8).

Article 10. The Committee notes that the Government refers, in a supplementary communication received after the report, to a study relating to the application of this Article, which does not appear to have been received. It would be grateful if the Government would provide complementary information, in particular on the two aspects covered by the statistics, namely, (i) the composition (or structure) of earnings and working time and (ii) the distribution of employees according to levels of earnings and hours of work.

Article 14. The Committee notes that the available methodological information on the statistics covered by this Article is insufficient for determining the extent to which it is applied. It would point out the importance of the obligations under Article 6 to produce and publish a detailed methodological description of the statistics and to communicate it to the ILO. Recalling that such information should include a description of the source and coverage, the concepts, terms and definitions used, the types of data collected, and an explanation of the data collection and compilation processes, the Committee would suggest the possibility for the Government to seek the assistance of the Office if there is any uncertainty. It also asks the Government to indicate whether statistics are compiled concerning (i) occupational injuries causing disability or absence from work, and (ii) the number of days lost by persons injured.

Article 15. The Committee asks the Government to indicate any steps taken to publish specifically a statistical series of strikes as well as a methodological description of the statistics (in accordance with Articles 5 and 6).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee has taken note of the Government's second report, in particular, the information concerning the application of Article 2 of the Convention (except in relation with Article 14 as mentioned below). It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 10. The Committee has noted from the available information that statistics of wage distribution have been compiled in conformity with the Convention. It would be grateful if the Government would provide more detailed information on the compilation and publication of statistics of wage structure, i.e. data on the composition and components of earnings and wage rates.

Article 14. The Committee again asks the Government to specify the standards and guidelines established under the auspices of the ILO (for example, resolutions adopted by the International Conference of Labour Statisticians) that have been taken into consideration, and to indicate the reasons for any departures from them in accordance with Article 2. It also asks the Government to indicate whether statistics are compiled concerning (a) occupational injuries causing absence from work, and (b) the number of days lost by persons injured, and to state whether a detailed methodological description of the statistics covered by this Article is produced and published in accordance with Article 6.

Article 15. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the title and reference number of the publication which contains the detailed methodological description of statistics on industrial disputes in accordance with Article 6(c).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

The Committee has taken note of the Government's first report and asks it to supply additional information on the following points:

Article 2 of the Convention. Please specify the standards and guide-lines established under the auspices of the ILO that have been followed for the drawing up of statistics as prescribed in each Article of the Convention (with the exception of Articles 7 and 15 on which the Government has already supplied information in its report). Please indicate also the reasons why there have been some departures from these standards and guide-lines, for example, in the drawing up, by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, of statistics on the labour market, as indicated by the Government.

Article 14 (in connection with Articles 5 and 6). The Government states in its report that detailed statistics on occupational injuries are compiled by the Central Association of Social Security Institutions. Please provide the most recent publication containing such statistics (also including data both on accidents which have or have not been the cause of death and on occupational diseases). Please also indicate the methodology used for the collection and compilation of such data.

Article 15 (in connection with Article 6). Please specify the publication containing statistics on industrial disputes and on the methodology used for the collection and compilation of these statistics. Please communicate a copy of the most recent publication on this subject.