Austria (AT)

Employment
Wages
Working Time
Leave
Social Insurance
Health and Safety
Trade Union Influence
Minimum Standards
Trade Union Participation

Employment

The agricultural sector in Austria employs 18,600 workers, thereof 9,300 in agriculture, 4,000 in horticulture, and 5,300 in forestry. Out of the total number of 18,600 agricultural employees 9,500 are full-time and 9,100 are part-time employees (thereof 2,500 Austrians and 6,600 from other EU countries such as former Yugoslavia, Czechia, Poland and Turkey). About 3,000 agricultural workers are registered as unemployed.

table International Comparison of Employment

Wages and Labour Costs

In Austrian agriculture collective agreements are concluded at the national and federal state levels (forestry, horticulture and agriculture) between trade union and employers' organisations. Collective agreements at the company level are also possible. Usually the collective agreements are made for a term of one year.

Worker's wage: € 6.85 hour (17.2 % welfare insurance contributions payable by the employee, 20.6 % welfare insurance contributions payable by the employer)

Besides the welfare insurance contributions another 0.75 % are deducted from the worker's wage for the agricultural workers' chamber, and employers pay another 1.53 % to a scheme providing for their staff.

The income tax level is 24.18 % of the worker's gross wage.

The Agricultural Work Act is the law governing the principles. At the next level there are nine different Agricultural Work Ordinances governing the implementation and laying down a number of special provisions. The collective agreement legislation applies to all workers in an industry, thus the collective agreements actually cover all employees. The collective agreements are kept by 100 % of the companies. (There are national and state level agreements).

An additional monthly wage is paid as Christmas benefit and holiday benefit.

table International Comparison of Wages and Labour Costs

Working Time

The working time in agriculture is 40 hours per week and can be made more flexible under the collective agreement (between 32 and 48). The overtime bonus is 50 %, or 100 % (work on Sundays and public holidays). The effective working time is 2080 hours per year.

table International Comparison of Working Time

Leave and Paid Holidays

The holiday length is 30 working days per year based on a 5-day week. There are 14 paid public holidays.

table International Comparison of Leave and Paid Holidays

Social Insurance

There is a statutory pension insurance and health insurance, and additional pensions through an accident insurance scheme.

Occupational Health and Safety

Fatal accidents in agriculture affect mainly small farmers, and to a lesser degree employees as well.

Companies need to have safety officers, large companies must have a company doctor service. Trade union specialists are working as officers in the general accident insurance body.

table International Comparison of Occupational Health and Safety

Trade Union Influence

The trade union has about 4,000 employees as members, so the degree of unionisation is 30%. In the agricultural sector there are 40 works councils. Works councils can be elected in companies with more than 5 employees. The degree of unionisation is decreasing slightly.

table International Comparison of Trade Union Influence

Minimum Standards

From July 2007 there is a statutory minimum wage (cf. Table).

table International Comparison of Minimum Standards

Trade Union Participation

Austria has a comprehensive participation system for the two sides of industry. In agriculture there are also agricultural workers' chambers. Participation in EU programmes is usually managed through the umbrella organisation, ÖGB. The government asks the two sides of industry for their opinion on any draft legislation or issues relating to them.

table International Comparison of Trade Union Participation

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