New regulation required

What is hard work? Hours should decide!

Is care also hard work? The answer to this question led to discrepancies in the ÖVP during votes in the Bundesrat and state parliament. But now the NÖAAB has set a clear course.

Care should be classified as hard work. With this demand, the SPÖ has put the ÖVP a little out of step. Particularly as the regional managing director Matthias Zauner voted against the proposal in the Bundesrat, while the ÖVP parliamentary group voted in favor of it in the regional parliament.

Clear direction
Now, however, the NÖAAB is taking the helm in this matter: "We must come to a regulation that is based on hours and not days," says chairwoman Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister. Background: Currently, heavy workers are defined as those who perform heavy work 15 days a month without interruption. In the case of 12-hour shifts - such as in the care sector - this figure is hardly reached due to days off in between.

Hours instead of days
The NÖAAB proposal: The calculation for recognition as heavy work should be changed to 120 hours per month! "Then more professions would benefit. All mandataries are behind this," it says. This demand should also be included in possible coalition talks with the ÖVP after the national elections.