"Would help exports"

Richard Lugner advocates a 41-hour week

At 91, Richard Lugner works "around 50 hours a week. Sometimes even more."

(Bild: Klemens Groh, Andreas Tischler Krone KREATIV,)

In the debate about longer working hours, Viennese shopping center operator Richard Lugner is now also speaking out - as a supporter: "There are major problems in the export industry due to high wage costs. A 41-hour week would help to reduce costs!"

The Federation of Austrian Industries recently called for a 41-hour week because there is a lot of work, but annual working hours per person have been falling for years. Lugner is also concerned about Austria's competitiveness: "The high wage agreements, in which Austria was the frontrunner, are putting a huge strain on the export industry." There is a fear of increased migration of production to countries with lower wage costs.

Regarding the demand for 41 hours, the master builder says: "When I started working in 1953, there were 48 hours per week and two weeks' vacation. Back then, everyone pulled together to rebuild Austria. Red and black also agreed on many positive things."

Baumeister hopes that at least there will be no reduction in working hours
Of course, Lugner remains realistic: "The 41-hour week will probably not happen because you can't undo social achievements." However, he hopes that there will at least be no reduction in working hours: "In my company, I'm happy if we stick to 39 hours, otherwise I'll have to create a few positions in the office so that we can be available for customers and tenants."

In Vienna's "Lugner City", sales increased by 9.94 percent in 2023.

(Bild: Klemens Groh, Andreas Tischler Krone KREATIV,)

In general, working should be made more attractive: "People are now considering whether they should work because of the difference between unemployment benefit and wages. I know a relatively young, healthy man who hasn't worked for twelve years. Austria must not always try to be the best in terms of social benefits!" According to Lugner himself, he works "about 50 hours a week. Sometimes even more."

Lugner also advocates opening on Sundays
The 91-year-old also comments on the discussion about longer opening hours in the "Krone" interview. He supports the call by Christoph Andexlinger, head of SES-Einkaufszenten, for six to eight open Sundays per year: "After the war, there was a silver and golden Sunday during Advent, which were the two Sundays before Christmas Eve. That was a necessary enrichment for working people, so that they could do their Christmas shopping in peace and in a considered manner, instead of quickly buying something during the week before the shutters came down."

Opening hours are also about strengthening the local economy: "It's right that there are more Sundays when a lot of money flows into neighboring countries. It is simply unreasonable not to give retailers the freedom to open when there is demand, but to force them to lower the shutters at 6 p.m. on Saturday, the busiest shopping day. An extension to 7 p.m. would be urgently needed. And being allowed to stay open until 9 p.m. on Advent Saturdays would significantly reduce the stressful Christmas rush."