Vienna: Austria’s coalition government approved new employment rules yesterday to ensure workers already in the country are given priority for new jobs over potential immigrants from other EU states in an attempt to halt an increase in unemployment.
However, the plans could undermine the European Union’s principle of free movement of people and prompt opposition from Brussels. A European Commission spokesman said the EU executive would not comment on legislation it has not yet examined.
Immigration into Austria’s labour market, especially from its poorer eastern European neighbours, has been rising for years due to its significantly higher wages and social benefits. Unemployment in Austria is still relatively low at 5.7 percent, under a harmonised EU measure, but is steadily rising and the government is also facing slower economic growth.
Under the plans, EU nationals already resident in Austria would also enjoy priority along with Austrian citizens over newcomers from outside the country.
