Burdens too high

1.3 million at risk of poverty in Austria

Minister of Social Affairs Johannes Rauch

(Bild: APA/Eva Manhart)

The government has failed in its plan to halve poverty in Austria. According to the new social report, 1.3 million people in Austria are at risk of poverty. That is around 15 percent of the population. The reasons for poverty are the many crises, corona, the war in Ukraine and inflation, says Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch.

The minister is now much more modest than in the government program. It is positive that the poverty figures have not risen any further. In view of the crisis situations we have had, this is "good news". One of the measures Rauch proposes to combat poverty is a basic child benefit. However, he admits that this will not happen in this legislative period.

Basic social rights required
The most effective poverty policy is the prevention of poverty. This fundamentally includes ensuring minimum living standards for all people in Austria, according to the social report. Minimum living standards could be laid down in the form of basic social rights.

Examples include the right to housing, including the supply of energy, water and digital infrastructure, the right to education, training and qualifications, the right to healthcare, nursing care, childcare, the right to mobility and even the right to gainful employment.

Housing is a financial burden for many.

(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

Right to education as the central key
Basic social rights should be realized through universal basic services: Services that are provided unconditionally to all who need them. The right to education could be implemented, for example, by offering a high-quality childcare place, the right to gainful employment by guaranteeing a job or employment.

In the poverty debate, the SPÖ pays particular attention to children who grow up in institutions. They are often left to their own devices at the age of 18 and are completely overwhelmed. The "Krone" newspaper has reported on their fate. Christian Oxonitsch, Member of the National Council, accuses the responsible Minister for Family Affairs, Susanne Raab (ÖVP), of complete inactivity and a lack of empathy and interest. Raab is characterized by a lack of interest in the area of child and youth welfare.

SPÖ member of parliament Christian Oxonitsch

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

Six years ago, under the Turquoise-Blue government, child and youth welfare was transferred to the competence of the federal states. At the time, the SPÖ agreed on the condition that the federal government would assume its obligations in research and quality assurance. However, this has not happened, criticizes Oxonitsch. On Thursday, he is submitting a motion to the Social Affairs Committee concerning child and youth welfare and the continued care of so-called care leavers (young people who are released from state care, please note).