The Federal Council today raised no objection to the extensive Amendment to service law for public service. At the request of the FPÖ, the amendment was voted on by name. Of the 58 votes cast, 47 votes – from the ÖVP, Greens and SPÖ – were yes. 11 votes – from the FPÖ and NEOS – were no.
The comprehensive amendment contains a controversial change in the Federal Equal Treatment Act. After the decision in the National Council two weeks ago, the ÖVP called this “a mistake”. In the passage in question, equal treatment “of men and women” is legally extended to equal treatment “based on gender”. It also stipulates that gender within the meaning of this federal law includes “gender characteristics, gender identity, gender expression and gender role”. Harald Himmer (ÖVP) announced that his parliamentary group wanted to submit a motion to repair the law at the constitutive meeting of the National Council on October 24th. The application should then be assigned to a committee.
The amendment is comprehensive and results in “greater progress overall,” said Minister Werner Kogler. There is also a finished draft for a salary reform, but there has been no agreement on it. The next federal government should take up this draft, said Kogler.
A motion for a resolution submitted by the SPÖ on professional security for emergency services and those affected during disaster operations as well as for rapid and unbureaucratic emergency financial aid for those affected by disaster damage was rejected.
The amendment to service law contains a wide range of changes
The contents of the 2024 amendment to service law range 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.
The package also includes changes for the school sector: It provides for better pay for lessons in German support classes as well as service and salary regulations accompanying the recently decided further development of teacher training. It also includes a relief measure for school directors. Accordingly, for teachers at compulsory general education schools who support the school management in administration, the teaching obligation is reduced by half an hour per week per class. However, this is possible for a maximum of two teachers.
FPÖ: Genders will be abolished
Günter Pröller (FPÖ) criticized the fact that the amendment was decided at the “last minute” and did not include any salary reform. The FPÖ does not agree to the amendment for two reasons: On the one hand, because it places a “general suspicion” on all civil servants due to EU regulations regarding possible conflicts of interest and, on the other hand, because the change it contains to the definition of gender roles is “completely wrong “direction,” said Pröller. He also criticized the fact that the amendment does not contain any solutions for salary differences in the armed forces. Christoph Steiner (FPÖ) said that the amendment “abolishes the genders” and submitted the motion for a roll-call vote on the amendment.
ÖVP: Don’t send the amendment back
Bernhard Ruf (ÖVP) addressed the numerous changes contained in the amendment and emphasized that these would make the public service more attractive as an employer. This amendment is a “new company vehicle” for the state apparatus, which ensures progress. They don’t want to “send this car back” and therefore don’t want to raise any objections to the amendment at today’s meeting, said Ruf. Even after the National Council election, the ÖVP stands by the fact that it wants to correct the passage in the Federal Equal Treatment Act contained in the amendment, said Harald Himmer (ÖVP). He announced that his faction would submit a corresponding proposal to the National Council.
Greens: The amendment brings improvements in many areas
The job market is changing and the public service is also in competition for the best minds, said Maria Huber (Greens). This amendment to service law therefore brings improvements in many areas. “Nobody is abolishing the genders,” said Marco Schreuder (Greens), pointing out that a ruling by the Constitutional Court has resulted in there currently being six options for gender registration in Austria.
The SPÖ’s “full approval” of the amendment
Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) said her group fully agreed with the amendment and emphasized that there was still more to do – especially to further support teachers and the police. With regard to the discussion about the change in the Federal Equal Treatment Act, they cannot understand where “the excitement” is because it is only a matter of clarification.
Schumann also discussed the flood disaster in Lower Austria. It’s important to “look even when the cameras are no longer there,” said Schumann and introduced a motion for a resolution on the professional security of emergency services and those affected during disaster operations. This calls for a legal right to exemption and continued payment of wages for emergency services deployed in disaster relief operations, a lump-sum compensation for any loss of earnings from self-employment for volunteer emergency services deployed in action, and legal certainty through a right to exemption from damage repair for people affected by disasters. In addition, immediate financial assistance should be provided to those affected quickly and unbureaucratically.
Farewell to the Federal Council
Heike Eder (ÖVP) is moving to the National Council and said goodbye to her colleagues in the Federal Council. Adi Gross (Greens) also gave his farewell speech and found moving words in a story from his personal family history. (Federal Council conclusion) bea
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