Incidental to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Austrian social
partners developed a new type of short-time work jointly with the
Federal Government and the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS).
The most recent revision of the "corona short-time work
regime" has eased some of the strictures imposed on
employers.
Short-time work is a temporary reduction in normal working hours
and pay due to temporary economic difficulties. Its object is to
avoid unemployment and maintain employment levels as much as
possible. Concomitantly, Section 37b (2) of the Public Employment
Service Act (AMSG) specifies an agreement required between the
social partners – necessary to obtain the allowance for
working short hours – to ensure that the employment level
will be maintained during shorttime work and beyond (if agreed),
unless the regional AMS office grants an exception in special
cases. Accordingly, current specimen agreements between the social
partners include provisions to maintain the
