Anti-inflation package

Budget for care and social services to be increased

Deputy Governor Anton Lang, Governor Doris Kampus, Governor Christopher Drexler and Governor Karlheinz Kornhäusl (from left)

(Bild: Land Steiermark/Binder)

In Styria, the provincial government recently approved a comprehensive anti-inflation package of around 123 million euros for the care and social sector. This is intended to cover the additional costs of salary increases as well as inflation-related price rises.

In the fight against inflation and in appreciation of the tireless work of employees in the care and social sector, the Styrian state government is now increasing the budget in the form of an anti-inflation package. Almost 70 million euros more will be made available this year in the area of inpatient care, while in the social sector the province of Styria will compensate for inflation with an additional 54 million euros. This will also cover the additional costs of the salary increase.

The package will be implemented in the care sector by increasing the budget funds for daily rates in care homes by 10.56 percent. In total, the additional costs for 2024 in the care sector alone amount to around 69 million euros, 60 percent of which will be borne by the state and 40 percent by the municipalities. This will enable Styrian care homes to cover, among other things, the collective agreement salary increases for employees of over nine percent.

54 million euros more for the social sector
Tens of thousands of Styrians are dependent on benefits from the social sector, around 15,000 people work in this area. The salaries of these employees will now be increased by around 10 percent. Secure and stable financial conditions are a major concern for the Styrian state government in the areas of assistance for the disabled, child and youth welfare and protection against violence. In total, an additional 54 million euros will be made available by the Province of Styria for the social sector.

Around 15,000 Styrians work in the social sector.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com - Peter Atkins)

Unity of the Styrian provincial government
Governor Christopher Drexler (ÖVP) is extremely pleased with the increase in the budget for care and social services: "Step by step, we are improving the quality of care for the people of Styria! These well-invested 123 million euros will benefit our Styrian care and social facilities and in particular their employees, who do outstanding work every day and help those people who need help."

Deputy Governor Anton Lang (SPÖ) emphasizes: "As finance officer, it is very important to me to support the social and care facilities and their employees in times of a continuing wave of inflation."

"Following the relief for senior citizens' day centers and the increase in nursing training places, this is another important step," said Provincial Councillor Karlheinz Kornhäusl (ÖVP). State Social Welfare Minister Doris Kampus (SPÖ) is also aware of the importance of this increase: "I am very pleased that the state of Styria is also providing additional funds in 2024 to increase the salaries of employees who provide outstanding services in the social sector."