The recent ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the
Good Friday regulation in the Austrian Labour Rest Act
(Arbeitsruhegesetz, ARG) has triggered vehement discussions. In
response, the parliamentary session of 27 February 2019 introduced
a "personal holiday" for all with a view to achieving a
legal situation in conformity with EU law.
The previous provision of Article 7 (3) ARG granted a paid
holiday on Good Friday to members of the Protestant Church of
Augsburg (Lutheran) and Helvetic (Reformed) Confessions, of the Old
Catholic Church and of the United Methodist Church. If a member of
any of these churches worked on a Good Friday, they were entitled
to double pay, whereas employees of other (or no) religious
confessions had to work normal hours rather than enjoying a paid
holiday.
