VIENNA (ILO News) – The International Labour Office (ILO) today issued a country study (Note 1) on decent work in Austria, the first in a series that will systematically examine decent work in ILO member States.
The Decent Work Country Profile for Austria was unveiled at ceremonies in Vienna marking the 90th anniversary of the ILO.
“We note considerable progress in different areas, including increased employment rates for women or an improved framework for reconciling work, family and personal life“, said Petra Ulshoefer, ILO Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia at the ceremony.
However, she also pointed to areas where policy initiatives of the government and the social partners were lacking success, including the persistent high wage gap between women and men.
“It was important for us to measure Austria’s performance according to its own high standards and to discuss eventual weaknesses openly”, she added.
Despite the recent rise in unemployment due to the economic crisis, the study sees overall substantial progress over the past ten years in increasing employment levels. This was, in particular, due to an increase in women’s employment and the better integration of older workers into the labour market. However, apart from this positive development, the study also notes that atypical forms of employment have been on the increase. The study acknowledges the expansion of active labour market policies and the significant increase in resources devoted to employment creation during the current economic crisis.
On a positive note, the study finds a modest rise of the average real wages and a progressively shrinking risk of falling into poverty, although the number of recipients of low wages, particularly women, has risen till 2007. The same year however, the social partners concluded a framework agreement which foresees collective agreements on the basis of minimum gross salary of 1,000 Euros for full-time work.
The study notes an extension of part-time work which has allowed women to take up an activity, but considers the career and income perspectives of these jobs as “problematic”. On the other hand, a minority of workers, particularly men and the self-employed, has long working hours of more than 48 hours a week.
Despite comprehensive initiatives of the government and the social partners the study notes only gradual progress with respect to gender equality. Women still earn between 20 and 25 per cent less than men, while only 28 per cent of managerial positions in the economy and administration are occupied by women. Both indicators stagnate at an unsatisfactorily level, the study says.
While the study notes a sinking number of work-related accidents, the number of occupational diseases remained at the same level, with a rise of the number of recognized lethal cases. The study explains this with a better recording of asbestos victims.
With respect to social security, Austria has maintained high standards and social expenditures have been stabilized. Although social transfers and public services more than proportionally benefit lower income households, 12 per cent of Austrians live in a household that is considered prone to poverty despite of these transfers.
Social partnership was also able to hold its strong position as Austria surpassed other European countries in maintaining comprehensive coverage by collective agreements.
The study also highlights progress in the fight against human trafficking and a better protection of victims in Austria.
Besides the OECD member Austria, countries like Tanzania, Brazil, Ukraine and Malaysia have agreed to test a new ILO concept for measuring decent work. In Austria, the ILO closely worked with the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, the country’s social partners, Statistics Austria and research institutions to produce the study.
The ILO concept of decent work covers a wide social spectrum in a country. It is based on four strategic objectives: fundamental principles and rights at work and international labour standards; employment and income opportunities; social protection and social security; and social dialogue and tripartism.
In 2008, the concept was formally confirmed with the adoption of the ILO Declaration on Social Justice and a Fair Globalization by the International Labour Conference. Among others, the Declaration recommends that member States introduce indicators and statistics to measure progress and implementation of the concept. In September 2008, the ILO developed a catalogue of indicators measuring decent work which was tested in Austria for the first time.
In November 2009, the ILO Governing Body will discuss on the basis of test results from the five participating countries whether the ILO will continue with these pilot projects. The final goal is an overview of the situation in all ILO member States with respect to decent work.
For further information, please contact the ILO Department of Communication (Hans von Rohland) at +4122/799-7916.
Note 1 - Länderprofil Menschenwürdige Arbeit in Österreich / Internationales Arbeitsamt – Genf: IAA, 2009 [English edition is forthcoming]. ISBN 978-92-2-722796-4 (print); 978-92-2-722797-1 (web pdf).