The fourth package of laws the National Council has in its current form meeting an extensive one Amendment to service law decided for public service. In addition to the ÖVP and the Greens, the SPÖ also voted for the bill presented by the coalition parties. It was the 933rd and probably last legislative resolution in this legislative period, unless the National Council meets for a special session. An amendment was also taken into account in the vote: Among other things, it provides for a – slight – reduction in the teaching obligation for teachers at compulsory general education schools who support the school director with administrative tasks.
State Secretary Andrea Mayer emphasized that the amendment brings “important improvements” and is a building block for making the public service more attractive.
However, a motion for a resolution by the SPÖ calling for a package of measures that would sustainably increase the attractiveness of the police profession did not receive a majority.
The amendment to service law brings numerous changes
The content of the adopted amendment to service law ranges from mandatory management training for managers in the federal service to an adaptation of the tendering law to better pay for health and nursing staff in prisons or in the enforcement of measures. In addition – following the example of the private sector – public employees will in future also have the opportunity to accompany their (underage) child to an inpatient rehabilitation stay for up to four weeks. For the first time, the secondary employment of contract employees is also regulated. Anti-corruption measures based on recommendations from the Council of Europe group of states GRECO and improvements in travel fee rates are also part of the package.
In the school sector, the MPs have, among other things, introduced better pay for lessons in German language classes as well as service and salary regulations accompanying the recently decided further development of teacher training. For example, teachers who enter the profession after completing their bachelor’s degree and complete their master’s degree part-time are generally only allowed to work up to half of their teaching duties and are not allowed to serve as class leaders unless they expressly wish otherwise. They can also only be used in teaching subjects in which they have a bachelor’s degree and cannot be used for permanent additional services. However, the relief is limited in time; at the same time, the human resources office can request proof of academic success.
If the teachers concerned commit to completing the master’s degree part-time within five years, they will be placed in the pd pay group. In addition, lateral entry into teaching at special schools is also made easier. What is also new is that school directors will be able to choose their own representatives in the future, unless the federal states in their area of responsibility specify other regulations.
In the short term, a relief measure for school directors was also incorporated into the bill: According to this, teachers at compulsory general education schools who support the school management in administration will have their teaching obligation reduced by half an hour per week per class. However, this is possible for a maximum of two teachers. Another point of the amendment submitted by the ÖVP and the Greens concerns the indicative use of the federal government’s new crisis coordinator, although according to the explanations, only formal adjustments will be made.
No approval from the FPÖ
The FPÖ did not approve this legislative package. Werner Herbert (FPÖ) said that “not everything is so bad” in the amendment, but that the amendment contains an “expression of distrust” towards public servants “on a large scale” due to EU regulations regarding conflicts of interest. In a “general suspicion towards all civil servants” this could “always create a conflict of interest,” said Herbert. He also criticized that changes to the Federal Equal Treatment Act with regard to definitions of gender roles went “in the wrong direction”. His FPÖ parliamentary group colleague Markus Leinfellner also saw only “little improvement” from the amendment, which in his opinion had “gone to shit” because, among other things, no solutions had been found for existing salary differences in the armed forces.
ÖVP and Greens: Amendment contains “comprehensive package”
Representatives of the governing parties emphasized that this amendment to service law was a comprehensive package. This brings “really good improvements,” especially for teachers, emphasized Eva Blimlinger (Greens).
The public service must continue to be designed in such a way that it is a promising employer, emphasized Romana Deckenbacher (ÖVP), who introduced the amendment. She also pointed out that the Federal Equal Treatment Act contains a passage that her group does not support, but that compromises were needed in order to be able to implement this “comprehensive package”. Johann Weber (ÖVP) said that the decision on this package shows that work will be carried out “until election day”. Gertraud Salzmann (ÖVP) regretted that the negotiations on this amendment to service law – which had already been on the table since 2023 – could not be concluded earlier. However, it has now been possible to remove a part from this amendment, which is now being decided. She named the relief package for teachers as an important and essential part of the amendment.
SPÖ underlined demands for the “right to an analogue life” and for more police officers
The SPÖ gives its approval to this package because it contains a number of improvements, said Selma Yildirim (SPÖ). She emphasized that a well-equipped public administration is needed and underlined the SPÖ’s demand for a “right to an analogue life”. Accordingly, personal contact between authorities and citizens must continue to be guaranteed in the future and must not be replaced by digital processes. The amendment contains many good things, but it can only be a beginning, said Petra Tanzler (SPÖ), because sustainable solutions and an overall strategy are needed, especially for the education sector, she demanded.
SPÖ MP Reinhold Einwallner pushed for a package of measures to make the police profession more attractive. Despite a personnel offensive, there would be a lack of 4,000 “duty police officers” in Austria, he argued. In order to attract more qualified applicants, comprehensive changes to employment law are needed. The motion remained in the minority with the votes of SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS and was therefore rejected.
NEOS: Criticism of the lack of salary reform
Martina Künsberg Sarre (NEOS) criticized that such a comprehensive package was only sent to the opposition parties at short notice “at the last minute”. The amendment also contains good things, such as the protection of young teachers, but there are also “back doors”. She also criticized the lack of salary reform. Johannes Margreiter (NEOS) discussed the great importance of the teaching profession. It is of great importance to make children understand the spirit of democracy at school, says Margreiter.
Thanks and farewell
Words of thanks and farewell were expressed by Eva Blimlinger (Greens), Reinhold Einwallner (SPÖ) and Johannes Margreiter (NEOS) in their last speeches in the National Council. (Final National Council) gs/bea
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