After decline

Upper Austria: number of welfare recipients on the rise

Provincial Councillor Christian Dörfel is setting up an institute to qualify long-term welfare recipients and get them back to work.(Bild: Wolfgang Spitzbart)

High unemployment and few prospects: 9200 people in Upper Austria are dependent on social welfare benefits. The state councillor responsible, Christian Dörfel (ÖVP), has now commissioned a separate institute to take action against cases of abuse. The focus is on long-term recipients who are able to work.

Upper Austria is regarded as a pioneer when it comes to strict rules on social welfare: the black-red-pink government wants to extend to the whole of Austria what politicians have introduced here, such as an obligation to make an effort and German courses. Wolfgang Hattmannnsdorfer, the former provincial councillor for social affairs who is now Minister for Economic Affairs, is regarded as one of the inventors of strict rules.