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Kogler wants to change salaries for civil servants

Salaries for new recruits are to be increased in order to cushion the wave of retirements.(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Salaries in the civil service are not particularly attractive, especially at the beginning, but they increase considerably over the years. In order to bring more fairness into the system, Civil Service Minister Werner Kogler (Greens) now wants to make a big change - with better starting salaries and a flattening of the salary curve. 

Talks are currently underway with the coalition partner ÖVP and the trade union, according to reports. However, it is unclear whether the reform will be implemented before the elections. The "Salzburger Nachrichten" had previously reported on the plans.

Kogler wants to modernize scheme
The planned reform is intended to modernize the remuneration system for contract staff and civil servants. Specifically, a significant increase in starting salaries of up to nine percent and a flatter increase in further career progression is planned. In addition, the different professional groups are to be represented in a common salary scheme, it was said.

Salaries for newcomers are to be increased in order to cushion the wave of retirements.(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Existing employees retain freedom of choice
According to Kogler's plans, the new employment law will apply to all new entrants to the civil service. Existing employees will be free to opt into the new system or remain in the old one. According to estimates by the ministry, 30,000 employees could make use of this option and switch to the new salary scheme.

In addition, around 15,000 to 20,000 people are likely to be newly recruited over the next five years. The ministry did not want to provide any information on the costs of the reform, referring to the ongoing talks.

Better salaries as an incentive to join
The Green-led ministry pointed out that the creation of a uniform, modern and permeable service law for all new recruits with a flattened salary curve and a constant lifetime income is part of the government's program. The federal administration is facing the challenge of filling numerous positions due to the current wave of retirements of the baby boomer generation. More than 40,000 people in the executive and military will retire in the next five years, while a quarter of the civil service is expected to retire.

As of December 31, 2022, there were a total of 135,357 full-time positions in the civil service. A third of federal employees are teachers and more than a quarter are in the police force. At around 15 percent, the third-largest personnel item is the armed forces.