Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legal regulations provides
information on regulations in the Member States of the European Union and Norway
which are explicitly or implicitly linked to anticipating and managing change.
Austria: Public authorities information and consultation on dismissals
Phase
Labour Market Promotion Act (AMFG)
Native name
Arbeitsmarktförderungsgesetz (AMFG)
Type
Public authorities information and consultation on dismissals
Added to database
08 May 2015
Article
45a
Description
If the employer wants to dismiss, within a 30 day period,:
at least 5 employees in a company with more than 20 and fewer than 100 employees,
at least 5% of employees in a company with 100-600 employees,
at least 30 employees in a company with more than 600 employees,
at least 5 employees aged 50+ irrespective of company size,
the employer must inform the regional office of the Austrian public employment service (AMS) in writing at least 30 days before the first planned dismissals.
The notification must include:
the reason for terminating the employment contract,
the timing of dismissals,
the number and function of regular staff and of employees to be made redundant, as well as their qualifications, gender, age, tenure,
selection criteria for dismissals,
possible planned measures to mitigate the negative consequences for affected employees.
The employer also has to prove that the works council has been informed and consulted. If there is no works council in the company, a copy of the notification to the public employment service has to be submitted to all potentially affected workers.
The public employment service has to start consultations with the employer, the works council, trade unions and employers' organisations and inform the social assistance office. If needed, also experts could be involved. The consultation should consider the optimal use of public support, particularly as regards older workers.
If the employer provides a sound justification (for example, establishment of a social plan or economic necessity), the public employment service can also authorise the dismissals before the 30 day period.
Commentary
Collective agreements can prolong the notice period of 30 days.
Additional metadata
Cost covered by
None
Involved actors other than national government
Employer organisation
Public employment service
Trade union
Works council
Other
Involvement (others)
Experts
Thresholds
Affected employees: 5 Company size: 21 Additional information: No, applicable in all circumstances
Sources
DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities/Héra (2011), Selected companies’ legal obligations regarding restructuring
Ius Laboris (2011), Individual Dismissals Across Europe, Brussels
Ius Laboris (2009), Collective Redundancies Guide, Brussels
Alpha Consulting (2003), Anticipating and Managing Change - A dynamic approach to the social aspects of corporate restructuring, European Commission, Brussels
Eurofound (2015), Austria: Public authorities information and consultation on dismissals, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin,
https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/public-authorities-information-and-consultation-on-dismissals/austria
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