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MewsAustria, Vienna (2025)

13/08/2025

Austria is facing a paradox in its labour market: unemployment is climbing, yet many companies report they cannot find enough staff.

According to a March 2025 Austrian Business Check survey by the Credit Protection Association of 1870 (KSV1870), 54% of domestic firms say they are experiencing staff shortages, with 23% describing the problem as severe. The main reason cited is a lack of funds.

In most cases, high costs of retaining staff and falling revenues are blamed. As a result, existing employees are often required to take on extra work – particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

The survey of 1,100 companies found that around 70% are choosing not to replace departing staff to cut costs. Ricardo-José Vybiral, CEO of KSV1870 Holding, said personnel expenses were often “the biggest lever” for reducing outgoings. However, he warned that this strategy could undermine competitiveness in the long term.

Despite the labour shortages, only 18% of companies plan to increase their workforce this year.

Austria is currently seeing an average of 84 corporate bankruptcies each week. At the same time, unemployment rose by 5.2% in July compared with the same month last year, with 359,374 people registered as unemployed or in training schemes.

Long-term unemployment was up 9.8%, while youth unemployment increased by 3.7%. Joblessness among foreign nationals rose by 5.3%, and among Austrian citizens by 5.5%.

The figures have sparked a heated political debate, with some commentators warning of a looming “labour market disaster.”

12/08/2025

Austria’s education minister has announced plans to introduce fines for parents who fail to cooperate when their children are suspended from school.

Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr said suspensions have surged to around 2,000 cases over the past four years, a trend he called “unacceptable.” Speaking to the Ö1 radio programme on Tuesday, the minister argued that the current rules are “not satisfactory” and require urgent change.

Under the proposal, all suspensions would be accompanied by mandatory educational and psychological support for the pupil, lasting between 10 and 20 hours, to help them reintegrate into the classroom. This requirement is set to be submitted to the cabinet in September, with plans to come into effect in February.

Wiederkehr criticised the fact that some suspended pupils treat the time away from school as a holiday. “It is not acceptable that children are sent home and then spend their time hanging out at shopping centres,” he said.

If parents refuse to engage with schools during the suspension process, Wiederkehr wants penalties imposed. “From my point of view, these should be administrative fines,” he explained, adding that while the exact amount is still under discussion, it should be “a noticeable punishment” to address the problem.

“The parents must be held accountable. If they are unwilling to talk to the school when their child is suspended, we will not be able to solve the problem,” Wiederkehr said.

12/08/2025

Austria’s new deposit-return system for plastic bottles and aluminium cans has been in place since January, adding 25 cents to the price of each item. Shoppers can reclaim that deposit by returning undamaged containers to special machines in supermarkets — but now it’s been revealed that retailers also profit from the process.

According to Recycling Pfand Österreich, supermarkets and other operators of return machines receive not only the returned deposit money, but also a handling fee for each container processed. For every plastic bottle returned via an automated machine, a supermarket earns just under four cents; for aluminium cans, the fee is 3.7 cents.

Stores that accept returns manually without machines receive slightly less — about three cents per item. These 2025 rates are reviewed annually.

While some environmentally conscious Austrians diligently collect and return their bottles, others see the system as inconvenient, particularly when faced with queues at return machines. As a result, many still throw bottles into plastic waste bins rather than claiming the deposit.

The scheme, aimed at reducing litter and boosting recycling rates, has prompted debate over whether the small financial gain for supermarkets could influence how the system operates in the long term.

11/08/2025

A narrow strip of snow is all that remains connecting the Schladminger and Hallstätter glaciers on Austria’s Dachstein mountain – and within weeks, it could disappear entirely.

The Dachstein, straddling the border between Styria and Upper Austria, is one of the country’s most photographed peaks, with more than 250,000 Instagram posts. But behind its picture-perfect façade, scientists say the glacier is undergoing a dramatic and unprecedented retreat.

Turquoise meltwater lakes have formed at the foot of the Gjaidstein, fed by torrents of water streaming down from the glacier plateau. “In the afternoon, it’s like a full stream running downhill,” said Alexander Seebacher, operations manager for the Dachstein cable car.

Only seven metres now separate the two glaciers at the Gjaidstein saddle, with a snow and ice bridge just one to two metres thick. Seebacher predicts that in “two to four weeks,” this link will vanish – ending a glacial connection that has existed for some 3,500 years.

The Dachstein ski area has already been closed since the 2022/23 winter season due to rapid ice loss. Once the last strip melts, access to the Seethalerhütte via the prepared glacier path will no longer be possible for ordinary hikers. “From then on, you’ll need crampons. It’s bare ice – tourists won’t be able to walk there safely,” said local mountain guide Hans Prugger.

A lack of winter snowfall accelerated this year’s melting. The protective snow cover reached only two metres in depth – far below the usual eight to ten. “The glacier was exposed a month earlier than normal,” Seebacher explained. “Last year, this spot was still 30 metres wide and two metres higher.”

Glaciologists warn that the rate of loss has exceeded expectations. “With this kind of dynamic, glaciers simply have no chance,” said Georg Bliem, CEO of Planai, adding that the latest measurements were “shocking.”
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11/08/2025

Vienna has issued its first gender-neutral passport, marking a milestone for non-binary recognition in the country. Instead of “male” or “female,” the passport lists the holder’s gender simply as “X.”

The document was granted to Emil, a 30-year-old non-binary person with residency in both Austria and Germany. Thanks to Germany’s Self-Determination Act, which came into force in 2024, changing one’s gender entry there is straightforward, and “diverse” is recognised as an official gender category.

A 2024 ruling by the European Court of Justice requires all EU member states to recognise gender changes legally registered in any other member state. Initially, Austrian authorities did not accept Emil’s German gender entry, forcing them to apply through Vienna’s local magistrate.

“I had two different gender entries in the EU — my legal gender changed every time I crossed a border,” Emil said.

The application was eventually approved, and the first Austrian passport carrying an “X” was issued. While Austria currently allows six gender categories to be registered, it is still unclear whether “non-binary” will be included without special circumstances. For most non-binary residents of Austria without foreign residency, the process remains unavailable until domestic courts decide on the matter.

Vienna’s move is seen as a symbolic step forward, but campaigners say broader reform is needed to make gender-neutral documentation accessible to all.
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10/08/2025

Vienna police have arrested three suspects after a violent home invasion in Donaustadt left a 38-year-old woman seriously injured.

At around 4 p.m. on Sunday, the suspects – two Serbian nationals aged 22 and 38, and a 38-year-old Austrian woman – allegedly forced their way into the victim’s apartment in a multi-unit building near Kagran. They are accused of attacking her with a blunt object, causing severe injuries, before vandalising the property.

The woman, who was taken to hospital, reportedly knew her attackers. According to police, the assault followed a heated argument between the victim and the Austrian suspect over an alleged previous theft of cash.

Special forces from Vienna’s WEGA unit tracked the trio to a detached house in Donaustadt. The 38-year-old Serbian man resisted arrest but was quickly overpowered. All three remain in police custody as investigations continue.

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10/08/2025

A long-running neighbourhood dispute in the Austrian state of Carinthia has ended in court defeat for a woman who sued her neighbours because their three-year-old child briefly entered her property.

The case began in 2022, when the woman became upset that construction workers employed by her neighbours had parked on her land and that the couple’s young daughter had on several occasions stepped onto her property while riding a scooter or playing.

According to the Klagenfurt District Court, security camera footage showed the child entering the garden five times over a five-month period, each time being promptly retrieved by one of her parents.

The woman sought a court order to prevent both the parking and any future trespassing by the child. However, judges ruled that while the incidents technically counted as a disturbance, the request for an injunction was unfounded. By the time of the trial in spring 2025, the building work was long finished and the child, now older, no longer entered the property.

Her appeal to the Klagenfurt Regional Court also failed. The court said the brief presence of a toddler and the parents’ actions to bring her back “cannot be considered a disturbance” and added that it was “almost inconceivable that a reasonable person would feel genuinely disturbed” in such circumstances.

The ruling brings an end to a years-long legal battle over what judges described as a “minor and isolated” issue.

09/08/2025

After weeks of cool, rainy weather, summer has finally returned with clear skies and blazing sunshine across much of Europe. While many welcome the chance to soak up vitamin D and spend afternoons by the pool, health experts warn that sudden and extreme temperature spikes can have a serious impact on the brain and body.

For some, the heat triggers irritability — a phenomenon reflected in the saying “heat has gone to their head.” Scientifically, the human brain is usually no more than one degree Celsius warmer than the body’s core temperature. Mental activity generates additional heat, and blood flow helps carry that warmth away to prevent overheating. But when brain temperature rises too high or drops too low, the function of key molecules slows, disrupting the speed of communication between brain cells. This can impair decision-making and concentration, especially in people with neurological conditions that affect sweating and temperature regulation.

If high temperatures persist overnight, they can interfere with sleep — a particular concern for people with epilepsy, where poor rest may trigger seizures. Older adults, especially those with dementia, are also at risk, as age-related changes make it harder to regulate body temperature. Cognitive impairments may lead them to forget to drink enough fluids or to venture outdoors in dangerous heat.

A study covering stroke mortality data from 25 countries found that, out of every 1,000 deaths from ischaemic stroke, two additional fatalities occurred on the hottest days. While that number seems small, it translates to over 10,000 excess stroke deaths annually worldwide, according to Dr Bethan Davies of University Hospitals Sussex.

09/08/2025

An Austrian pensioner who worked for 45 years without taking a single sick day has been refused rehabilitation treatment after a fall left him dependent on care.

Franz M., from Schwanenstadt in Upper Austria, fell at home several weeks ago and has since been unable to walk. His family says the former Joka factory worker had never previously made use of the health system beyond standard care, but now finds himself without support from the Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA), Austria’s state pension insurance agency.

“When he was discharged from hospital, they said nothing was broken – and sent him home,” his wife Anna told.“Since then, he’s been a care case. I bathe him, change him several times a day, and my son helps get him into his wheelchair for lunch.”

The PVA, however, rejected his rehabilitation application, citing “no necessity” for treatment and stating that a new application cannot be submitted for at least a year. The letter was signed by the regional branch director, Gerald Holzinger.

In a written statement, the agency said the application itself indicated that Mr. M. was not mobile and required help with daily needs, meaning there was “insufficient rehabilitation capacity” for treatment to be effective.

His son Robert said the decision was “humiliating” given his father’s lifelong contributions to the system. “We’re treated like supplicants,” he told the newspaper.

The case follows a similar controversy in Styria last week, where a woman lost her disability pension after being declared fit for work despite ongoing health issues.

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08/08/2025

A Vienna resident has admitted to travelling on the city’s public transport system without a ticket for the past five years, saying it is both a financial decision and a political statement.

Max V., told he has never owned a ticket in Vienna. Despite being caught multiple times by ticket inspectors, he continues to ride without paying, arguing that it is often cheaper than buying an annual pass — even when factoring in fines.

“With the next price increase, it could be even more worthwhile,” he said.

Max insists his stance is not just about saving money. He believes public transport should be funded entirely through taxes, like road infrastructure, and that charging passengers on top of that is unfair.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that ticket inspectors for Wiener Linien, the city’s public transport operator, receive bonuses of up to €18.25 for each fare evader they catch — potentially earning as much as €15,000 a year in premiums.

Despite frequently facing inspectors, Max describes them as “mostly respectful” and says he has never experienced an unpleasant confrontation. “I’ve never jumped a barrier or tried to run,” he said. “I just give them my details and pay the fine.”

Currently, fare dodgers face a €105 penalty if paid immediately, or €115 if settled later. While Max says his approach “almost pays off,” he admits it carries a constant risk — and he remains uncertain how long he will continue.

Authorities stress that travelling without a valid ticket is illegal and punishable by fines. This account reflects the personal view of one individual and does not constitute advice or endorsement.

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08/08/2025

Austria is set to face a prolonged spell of hot weather this weekend, with forecasters warning of extreme heat in several regions.

The GeoSphere Austria (formerly ZAMG) has issued an orange-level heat warning for Vienna and other city centres from Saturday, citing “strong heat stress” and potential impacts on daily life.

High-pressure systems — Ines over Eastern Europe and Julia moving in from the Atlantic — will bring widespread calm and increasingly hot conditions across the country.

Temperatures on Saturday are expected to reach between 29°C and 35°C, with some areas around Seewinkel likely hitting 36°C. Although some weather apps have suggested highs close to Austria’s all-time record of 40.5°C, meteorologists have dismissed those figures as inaccurate.

Sunday’s heat will intensify, with the orange warning extending over a wider area, including Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt and Villach. Forecasters caution that the conditions may cause disruptions or even damage.

The hot spell is expected to continue into next week, with mostly sunny skies and only isolated thunderstorms in mountainous regions.

07/08/2025

Austria’s Supreme Court (OGH) has issued a new ruling that could block tenants from claiming back decades of rent increases, despite a previous landmark decision by the Constitutional Court that declared certain rent indexation clauses invalid.

The Constitutional Court had earlier found that rent contracts lacking a specific clause — prohibiting rent increases within the first two months of tenancy — rendered the entire indexation clause void. This potentially entitled tenants to seek refunds for rent hikes over the past 30 years.

However, the Supreme Court has now determined that this interpretation does not apply to long-term tenancy agreements, where the rental service extends beyond the initial two-month period. Since most tenancy contracts in Austria are long-term, this could nullify hopes of retroactive refunds for many renters.

“This is a new interpretation,” explained civil law professor Martin Spitzer in an interview. While the decision is not legally binding across all cases, it significantly weakens the broader legal argument for invalidating rent increases under these conditions. “If this ruling holds, then there will be no refunds,” Spitzer said.

Consumer advocate Daniela Holzinger from the Consumer Protection Association (VSV) criticized the Supreme Court’s stance, calling it a reversal of previous rulings and an effective legalization of an unfair practice. She accused the judiciary of siding with the real estate industry and diverging from EU legal standards.

“The Supreme Court's panels are contradicting each other. This protects the real estate sector on a large scale and contradicts the European Court of Justice,” Holzinger said. The VSV is now calling for the formation of an expanded panel to issue a definitive, unified ruling.

Meanwhile, several other legal cases on this matter are still ongoing.

MewsAustria

13/08/2025

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