Minister Kocher:

“We have problems, but we shouldn’t complain sick”

(Bild: krone.tv)

In the "Rainer Nowak Talk", Economics and Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP), Monika Köppl-Turyna (Eco Austria) and Markus Marterbauer (Chamber of Labor) discussed.

Recession and inflation are causing concern. In these times, Economics and Labor Minister Martin Kocher is a very popular man. He was interviewed by Rainer Nowak. In a talk on krone.tv with Monika Köppl-Turyna, Director of Eco Austria, and Markus Marterbauer, Chief Economist of the Chamber of Labor (AK).

"We are lagging behind with children from one to three"
One key point: part-time work for women. A problem, especially as "we have the highest rate in the OECD", said Kocher, who sees one of the reasons for this as still being a lack of childcare. "It's good that the government is investing 4.5 billion euros here, but the expansion needs to be implemented more quickly. We are lagging behind, especially for children from one to three."

Minister of Labor Martin Kocher (ÖVP)(Bild: krone.tv)

"We need to rethink the tax system"
Nowak wanted to know whether politicians and the ÖVP, with its rather conservative view of society, had blocked this for too long. Köppl-Turyna: "Austria is a conservative country, very different from Denmark and Sweden, for example, where many more women work full-time." The director of Eco Austria sees too little demand, but also too little supply. A chicken and egg problem.

There is also the problem of tax progression, which offers too little incentive to increase working hours to full-time. "We need to rethink the tax system."

Monika Köppl-Turyna (Eco Austria)(Bild: krone.tv)

Urban-rural problem
AK economist Markus Marterbauer stated that more and more women wanted to work full-time. A quarter of part-time employees currently want to switch to full-time work. "But there is a big urban-rural problem. In Vienna, 80 percent of primary school pupils have afternoon care, in Tyrol it is only 25 percent."

The part-time problem also has an impact on men, who work very long hours in an international comparison. This also has consequences for family life. Marterbauer: "A study found that 30 hours per week would be ideal."

Markus Marterbauer (Chamber of Labor)(Bild: krone.tv)

After years of difficulties, the Red-White-Red Card for people from third countries is working very well following a reform. And Austria is generally very attractive, according to Minister Kocher. 42,000 people from EU countries come to Austria every year. Köppl-Turyna countered that many better qualified people prefer to go to other countries. "Austria is a country with the highest taxes. People look at where there is more net left over. Other countries are more attractive."

Minister on the failure of his unemployment reform
There was agreement on the existing potential in Austria. According to Marterbauer, around one million people in Austria would be available for better jobs, and many older people would like to work longer. It was also about quality. "There are far too many bad jobs in this country. 290,000 full-time employees earn less than 1,900 euros per month. That's where politics comes in."

The "degressive unemployment model", which Kocher would like, was also discussed. 70 percent would have benefited from it - initially more unemployment benefit, then gradually decreasing. The aim was to reintegrate people into the work process more quickly. It ultimately failed, as Kocher revealed to Rainer Nowak, due to the additional demand that the additional earnings limit for the unemployed should also be lowered. The Greens did not go along with this. "That was incomprehensible to me." Köppl-Turyna provides an argument for Kocher's model: higher additional earnings for the unemployed would prolong unemployment. There would then be no incentive.

Marterbauer, on the other hand, warned that the degressive model would mean an increase in manifest poverty.

Rainer Nowak(Bild: Klemens Groh)

The retirement age was also discussed. Far too low, according to Köppl-Turyna. In Austria, 18 percent of gross domestic product is spent on pensions, in Denmark only eight percent. A problem that has existed for decades. Minister Kocher was generally keen to emphasize the positive aspects. "Austria is a good business location. But the future no longer looks so rosy. We have some problems that we need to monitor and tackle. But we shouldn't be complaining sick."