AK Survey Shows: More Than Half in Part-Time Due to Childcare or Caregiving for Relatives

In the Chamber of Labor's online survey, the question "Why do you work part-time?" could be answered with multiple responses. For almost a quarter of the respondents, the high professional workload was decisive for part-time work. Around one-fifth stated that they could not work more hours for health reasons. Another 18 percent cannot increase their working hours because there are no full-time positions or additional hours available in their own company. Other reasons for part-time work include education and training (5 percent), side jobs or self-employment (6 percent), voluntary work (3 percent), and inadequate public transport connections (2 percent).

AK Chief: Accusation of Lifestyle Part-Time is "Disrespectful"

The part-time debate repeatedly sparked by the ÖVP in recent years is incomprehensible for AK President Renate Anderl. "Accusing employees of doing lifestyle part-time is disrespectful," criticized Anderl on Monday, referring to statements made by Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (ÖVP) in the summer. Workers have to "choose the path" of part-time because "they are reaching their limits." Many companies would like to use part-time employees as a "flexible reserve."

Anderl pointed to the survey results, which show that for the majority of respondents, a 30 to 35-hour workweek would be "ideal" under good conditions. The AK chief is pushing for the points on part-time work agreed upon in the government program to be implemented soon. The Chamber of Labor has long been demanding that part-time workers who constantly work overtime should have a legal right to full-time employment and that the overtime surcharge of 50 percent should apply from the first additional working hour.

Greens Welcome AK Proposals, IV Opposed

The Greens want to submit a motion for a right to increase hours in the case of regularly performed overtime at the next National Council meeting. "Anyone who works on average 20 percent more than agreed over a period of six months should have a legal right to an increase in working hours," said the Greens' labor and social spokesperson, Markus Koza, in a statement. The motion will also include a prohibition of discrimination and protection against dismissal for those who request an increase in hours.

In contrast, the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) is critical of a right to full-time employment or increasing the overtime surcharge from 25 percent to 50 percent. "The latter rather leads to cementing part-time work instead of bringing people into full-time employment - an increase in hours for those who want it is currently not financially worthwhile," said IV Secretary General Christoph Neumayer in a statement.

(APA/Red.)

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