Labour Representation in Austria

On 21 February 2024, worker and employer representatives were invited to an event organised jointly by the FPÖ Political Academy and the Liberal Club to discuss current challenges. Against the backdrop of the current Chamber of Labour (AK) elections, Michael Oberlechner from the Freiheitliche Arbeitnehmer, the workers’ advocacy group within the Freedom Party, declared his support for strong employee representation, but warned against an AK as a “state within a state”. Ronny Walter (Freiheitliche Wirtschaft Vienna) said that given the difficult situation facing retailers in Vienna, it was essential to lower payroll tax. Second Lieutenant Thomas Perthold, personnel representative from AUF/AFH (which advocates on behalf of public sector workers), formulated the need for a political rethink in view of the manpower shortage in the Austrian Armed Forces. New incentives must be created for members of the armed forces, as otherwise the military will be unable to perform the full range of tasks required of it. Peter Schmiedlechner from the FPÖ farmer’s organisation described the situation of Austrian farmers as “dramatic” and called for measures to strengthen agricultural production such as a designation of safe origin or the promotion of GMO-free food.